Russia has warned it may reject the U.S.-Ukraine peace plan if it does not adhere to key agreements made during the Alaska summit between President Trump and President Putin.
Russia is threatening to reject President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan for Ukraine unless it upholds certain “key understandings” established during the Alaska summit with President Vladimir Putin.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made this assertion during a news conference on Tuesday, emphasizing that Moscow is awaiting an updated version of the peace plan aimed at resolving the nearly four-year conflict in Ukraine.
Lavrov warned that if the terms of the “key understandings” from the August summit are not honored, the situation would shift dramatically. He reiterated Russia’s unwavering demands in the negotiations, which include barring Ukraine from joining NATO and requiring the country to relinquish control over the remainder of the Donbas region as part of any peace agreement.
As the situation evolves, the conflict has escalated, with reports of Russian bombardments in Kyiv resulting in casualties. This comes as the Trump administration moves forward with its peace plan.
John Hardie, deputy director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Russia Program, commented on the challenges facing the U.S. diplomatic efforts. He noted that Russia’s intransigence over the past ten months has been a significant obstacle to achieving peace.
Hardie stated, “The United States has really shot itself in the foot by kind of flip-flopping between strategies. One month you’re trying to pressure the Russians and saying they’re the obstacle to peace. The next minute you’re trying to force their terms on Kyiv.” He emphasized the need for sustained military support for Ukraine and economic pressure on Russia, asserting that both the Ukrainian military and Western resolve must remain steadfast.
Former CIA station chief Dan Hoffman expressed skepticism about the potential for a resolution to the conflict. He argued that the United States currently lacks the leverage necessary to compel Moscow to cease its invasion.
“Vladimir Putin’s strategic objective has always been to overthrow the democratically elected government of Ukraine. He’ll engage in negotiations, but he does it to ensure that he’s asserting the primacy of Russia in his self-designated sphere of influence,” Hoffman said. He added, “I just don’t see any evidence that Russia is going to pause in their relentless attacks on Ukraine.”
Despite the ongoing tensions, Ukraine has reportedly agreed to a peace deal aimed at ending the war with Russia, although some details remain to be finalized. A U.S. official confirmed that U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the framework for the peace deal.
The U.S. official also noted that a Ukrainian delegation was present in Abu Dhabi and was in communication with Driscoll and his team regarding the negotiations.
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