As negotiations over a possible ceasefire in Ukraine intensify, Russia has stated it will demand guarantees that Ukraine remains neutral and is permanently barred from joining NATO. Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko emphasized that these conditions must be part of any agreement to end the war, which has now lasted three years.
“We will demand that ironclad security guarantees become part of this agreement,” Grushko told the Russian media outlet Izvestia. “Part of these guarantees should be the neutral status of Ukraine, the refusal of NATO countries to accept it into the alliance.”
The statement comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts, with U.S. President Donald Trump set to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Trump, who campaigned on ending the war quickly, has indicated that discussions will cover territorial divisions and key infrastructure, including power plants.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “A lot of work’s been done over the weekend. We want to see if we can bring that war to an end.” He added that negotiations include “dividing up certain assets” between Russia and Ukraine, raising concerns about potential territorial concessions.
The U.S. and Ukraine have jointly proposed a 30-day ceasefire to Russia, but Putin has outlined strict conditions for peace. One major sticking point is the status of Russia’s western Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched an incursion last August. While Putin claims Russia has regained full control, the issue remains a point of dispute.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Putin of attempting to derail ceasefire efforts, questioning Moscow’s sincerity in the negotiations. Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who recently met with Putin in Moscow, declined to comment on whether Russian-occupied Ukrainian land could be a bargaining chip in the talks. Russia currently holds about a fifth of Ukraine’s territory.
Trump has long claimed he could end the war “on day one” of a new administration. Since taking office, he has pursued direct talks with Putin, including a reported 90-minute phone call last month to push for negotiations. However, with Russia’s firm demands and Ukraine’s resistance to territorial concessions, achieving a lasting peace remains uncertain.
