Russian Official Announces Goals Related to Halting the War with Ukraine

SadaNews - The head of the International Affairs Committee in the Russian State Duma, Leonid Slutsky, expressed his belief that the United States is working constructively to end his country's war with Ukraine, emphasizing that Moscow will not stop fighting until it achieves its goals.

According to Slutsky, the Ukrainians oppose the terms presented by Washington, and thus it is still early to discuss any results.

He added that this document remains provisional and will be subject to discussion and rephrasing until direct negotiations between the two countries begin, highlighting that his country will not concede on some matters discussed by President Vladimir Putin.

Moscow - as the Russian official states - will only accept Ukraine's abandonment of its constitution, which he described as Nazi, the disarmament of Ukraine, and the termination of its dream of joining NATO, which aims to approach Russia's borders.

We will not give up our goals

If the Ukrainians do not take constructive positions that achieve Russia's goals from this war, fighting will continue despite Moscow's apparent flexibility in negotiations, according to Slutsky, who confirmed that the time has come for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

However, resolving the conflict through diplomacy requires - according to the spokesperson - that Kyiv shows a positive stance that it has not yet demonstrated on matters such as territorial issues, even though it has responded to the American pressures exerted on it.

Slutsky refused to discuss the clauses of the American document, which he said are secret and not subject to disclosure, affirming that his country "relies on rationality," and that Washington has a chance to stop the war, but no one can know how things will end up.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he is ready to discuss sensitive matters regarding Washington's peace plan with President Donald Trump, with the necessity of involving European leaders in the talks.

The advisor to the Ukrainian president also stated that his country has succeeded in improving the document presented by Trump, and that some provisions of it have developed.

He affirmed that Zelensky has not authorized the delegation to discuss the concession of territory, as it is a matter decided by the Ukrainian people according to the country's constitution, adding that Kyiv will not recognize any occupation.

In contrast, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow understands that amendments are being made to Trump's plan to settle the war, and that it has not yet received this plan to discuss it in detail.

He added that Trump's project might be a good basis for negotiations, and that Moscow is interested in achieving its goals through politics, but its position has not changed, and it remains firm.

Trump had previously mentioned that ending the war in Ukraine is not as easy as he thought, revealing the proximity to reaching an agreement in this regard, indicating that "huge progress" was made last week regarding ending the war.

He clarified that he had directed American envoy Steve Witkoff to meet President Putin in Moscow, while Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is scheduled to meet with the Ukrainians.

The American President continued, "I look forward to meeting (Volodymyr) Zelensky and Putin soon when the agreement to end the war is ready or in its final stages".

Source: Al Jazeera