Russia says it is not ready to discuss "peace plan" publicly
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, has said that Moscow is not ready to publicly discuss the details of a "peace plan" regarding the settlement of the war in Ukraine.
Source: Ryabkov's press conference, the Kremlin-controlled RIA Novosti agency
Quote: "We are not ready to discuss publicly certain details of what is happening, including the different versions of this 'peace plan'. Ultimately, time and attention are needed for the dialogue process to continue."
Details: Meanwhile, Ryabkov welcomed American efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the Russian-Ukrainian war, but noted that Moscow will not make concessions.
Quote: "There can be no talk of any concessions, of abandoning our approaches to the key elements of the tasks before us, including in the context of the 'special military operation'."
Background:
- On 26 November, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov did not rule out the possibility that Russia's aggression against Ukraine could end in 2025, while Putin's spokesperson urged against drawing premature conclusions about the end of the war.
- Bloomberg learned that the Russian negotiating team discussed a strategy to present the Russian "peace plan" proposal to US President Donald Trump's team so that the Americans could pass these ideas off as their own initiative.
- On 25 November, Trump stated that he has tasked Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll with finalising the terms of a proposed "peace agreement" between Russia and Ukraine. Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow, and if talks reach the final stage, Trump plans to meet Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- Trump believes Russia's biggest concession would be agreeing to stop fighting and not seize additional territory.
- According to CNN, Ukraine and the US still disagree on three points of the proposed "peace agreement", including a demand that would see Ukraine withdraw without a fight from the part of Donetsk Oblast that is not currently occupied.
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