Deputy FM announces Russia willing to engage in ‘tough’ talks with US

(MENAFN) Russia is ready to engage in "tough bargaining" with the United States to settle the Ukraine conflict, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov. His statement comes after US President Donald trump expressed a desire to end the war quickly and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While Moscow is open to dialogue, Ryabkov emphasized that Washington must take the first step toward improving relations. He noted that Russia had thwarted previous US efforts to achieve a "strategic defeat" of Russia during Joe Biden's administration. For bilateral relations to normalize, Ryabkov stressed that the US must act based on mutual respect and equality.

Ryabkov also dismissed calls to rush into a new relationship with the US administration, describing such efforts as counterproductive. In recent statements, Trump indicated that communication between his administration and Russia has increased. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that contact between US and Russian departments has grown since Trump’s inauguration.

Moscow remains cautiously optimistic about Trump’s stance, calling for a comprehensive resolution to the conflict, not merely a freeze in hostilities. Additionally, reports have suggested that Saudi Arabia and the UAE could serve as potential locations for a summit between Trump and Putin, given their neutral stance and diplomatic ties with both Russia and Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted that Trump’s acknowledgment of Ukraine's NATO membership issue is a significant shift, as it marks the first time a Western leader has admitted the mistake of supporting Ukraine's NATO ambitions. Moscow has long insisted that any resolution to the conflict must include Ukraine’s neutrality and demilitarization. However, Ukraine views NATO membership as crucial for its security, despite NATO's requirement that the conflict be resolved first.

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