• Source:JND
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Russia has rejected the peace deal proposed by US President Donald Trump to halt the Ukraine war. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that while Russia has considered the US proposals "very seriously," the Kremlin remains dissatisfied with the terms of the suggested ceasefire. He emphasised that the United States is not addressing Vladimir Putin's central demand, which is believed to be the desire for control over Ukraine, a key issue that Ryabkov sees as one of the "root causes of the conflict."

Ryabkov expressed that the peace deal, as presented by the United States, fails to consider the central issue at the heart of the conflict: Vladimir Putin's demand for control over Ukraine. The Deputy Foreign Minister pointed out that the US proposals aim for a ceasefire, but they do not tackle what he described as the "root causes" of the war. Ryabkov highlighted that, according to the Kremlin, the ultimate resolution of the conflict depends on Ukraine’s future status, particularly its relationship with NATO and its alignment with the West.

'Root Cause Not Addressed'

"The root cause of the conflict is not even addressed in the current proposals," Ryabkov told International Affairs magazine. "We have not heard from Trump a signal to Kyiv to end the war, which is what we believe is necessary to reach peace." Russia’s stance is that NATO’s expansion, particularly its encroachment on former Soviet states, poses a significant security threat. For Moscow, Ukraine's potential NATO membership is seen as a direct provocation.

US-Led NATO Is 'Red Line' For Russia

One of the main points of contention between the US and Russia remains Ukraine’s ties to NATO. Moscow perceives NATO as a threat to its national security, and it views Ukraine’s potential membership in the alliance as a "red line" that cannot be crossed. Ryabkov stressed that any peace deal must address this issue and explicitly prevent Ukraine from joining NATO or aligning more closely with the US-led military alliance. "This is completely absent in the American proposals, and it must be overcome," he said.

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Russia’s Own Approach To Peace Process

Despite rejecting the US peace plan, Ryabkov reassured that Russia has a carefully thought-out strategy for resolving the conflict. He mentioned that Russia's negotiating team is actively working on their own proposals, which were discussed in recent talks with U.S. officials in Riyadh. "We take the models and solutions proposed by the Americans very seriously, but we cannot accept all this as it is," Ryabkov stated, underscoring that Russia's priorities and demands are crucial to any potential resolution of the conflict.