"If it is to be called a plan, it is completely different from the initial 27-point draft proposed by the US and studied by Russia. A definitive agreement cannot be reached without adequately addressing the root causes of the crisis," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated on 26/12.
He emphasized that any agreement must "remain within the limits" set by Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump during their summit in Alaska last August. "Otherwise, no consensus will be reached," Deputy Minister Ryabkov added.
"The possibility of a final push to reach an agreement will depend on Russia's own efforts and the political will of the other side, especially as Ukraine and its backers, particularly the European Union (EU), which does not support reaching an agreement, are intensifying their destructive efforts," he said.
According to the Russian official, it is impossible to say exactly when the Ukraine conflict can be resolved. "Imposed timelines will not help here. Deadlines of 9 days, 90 days, or any other benchmark hold no practical value," Deputy Minister Ryabkov stated, calling for "focusing on the essence of the problem."
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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov at a press conference in Moskva on 26/11. Photo: Reuters |
Officials from Ukraine and the EU have not yet commented on these statements.
The draft 20-point peace plan unveiled by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on 23/12 covers many issues, from post-conflict territorial arrangements to the security guarantees Kyiv wishes to receive, as well as a plan for Ukraine's reconstruction.
Ukraine has secured some concessions in the new draft, such as freezing the front lines and not being required to abandon its ambition to join NATO. The draft does not compel Ukraine to immediately withdraw troops or establish a demilitarized zone, terms Kyiv previously opposed or avoided, but has included them for negotiation for the first time for future consideration.
The Ukrainian President will meet his US counterpart Donald Trump in Florida on 28/12 to discuss the new version of the peace plan. According to Zelensky, "sensitive issues such as the Donbass region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant" will also be discussed.
Huyen Le (According to AFP, TASS)
