Moscow has expressed its desire to involve the United Nations and other international actors in its ongoing negotiations with the United States regarding a partial truce in Ukraine. Russian negotiator Grigory Karasin made this statement on Tuesday, a day after US and Russian delegations engaged in 12 hours of discussions in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to the state-run TASS news agency, Karasin emphasized that Russia is committed to continuing negotiations while expanding the scope of participants. “We will continue the talks, adding in the international community, above all the United Nations and certain countries,” he said.
The recent talks in Saudi Arabia mark a rare instance of direct engagement between Moscow and Washington amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, details of the discussions remain scarce, with both sides keeping negotiations largely confidential. The involvement of additional parties, particularly the UN, could signify a shift towards broader diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating the war, which has raged since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Russia’s call for UN involvement comes at a time when international pressure to find a peaceful resolution is mounting. While the US and its Western allies continue to support Ukraine militarily and diplomatically, there have been growing appeals for renewed peace efforts. The recent summit in Switzerland, which sought to establish a framework for peace negotiations, notably lacked Russian participation, further underscoring the complexities surrounding any diplomatic resolution.
The Kremlin has previously criticized Western-led peace efforts, arguing that they fail to consider Russia’s security concerns and territorial claims. By advocating for a broader negotiation framework, Moscow may be seeking to garner international legitimacy and shift the narrative around the conflict.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has remained firm in its stance that any peace talks must prioritize its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that a just resolution must include the full withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territories.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the potential inclusion of the UN in negotiations could provide a new avenue for mediation. However, with deep divisions still evident between Russia, Ukraine, and the West, the path to a sustainable peace remains uncertain.
