Russia is prepared to consider new proposals for ending the war in Ukraine, but Moscow says any settlement must account for what it describes as the “realities on the ground.”
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow was ready to listen to reasonable ideas from Washington and continue diplomatic engagement. His comments come as U.S.-Russia efforts to revive negotiations have largely stalled, with the broader geopolitical crisis surrounding the Iran war adding further complications.
Ryabkov said the key question was whether Washington could influence Kyiv and its European supporters, whom Moscow continues to accuse of seeking Russia’s strategic defeat.
Moscow Wants Any Settlement to Reflect Battlefield Realities
Russia currently controls around one-fifth of Ukraine’s internationally recognised territory after almost four and a half years of war. Moscow has repeatedly said it is willing to negotiate, but insists that any agreement must recognise the territorial and political changes created by the conflict.
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Ryabkov reiterated that position, saying Russia would consider proposals that align with President Vladimir Putin’s objectives and the “realities on the ground.”
The wording highlights one of the central obstacles to a settlement. While Washington has indicated that it wants to find a compromise, Russia’s interpretation of a realistic settlement remains significantly different from Ukraine’s position and that of several European governments.
US Efforts to Find a Middle Ground
The United States has continued to express support for diplomatic efforts to end the war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that Washington remained committed to helping bring the conflict to an end after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Manila.
However, Rubio also warned that there was no immediate agreement and that Washington was attempting to find a “middle ground.”
U.S. presidential envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have previously played prominent roles in negotiations with Moscow, although the Kremlin said it had no information about a possible new visit by the two envoys.
Iran War Adds Another Layer of Uncertainty
The Ukraine negotiations have also been affected by the wider geopolitical crisis surrounding Iran. Talks between Washington and Moscow have largely stalled as attention has shifted toward the conflict in the Middle East.
That creates an additional challenge for diplomacy. The longer the Iran conflict dominates U.S. foreign policy, the more difficult it may become for Washington to devote sustained political attention to the highly complex Ukraine negotiations.
At the same time, Russia may see the shifting global agenda as an opportunity to strengthen its bargaining position by arguing that Western governments must eventually prioritise negotiations over prolonged confrontation.
Russia Also Wants to Keep Nuclear Dialogue Open
Ryabkov’s comments extended beyond Ukraine. He said Moscow remained interested in finding diplomatic mechanisms to stabilise relations with Washington over nuclear weapons.
The New START treaty expired in February, leaving Russia and the United States without binding limits on their strategic nuclear arsenals for the first time in more than five decades.
Russia has said it will continue observing the treaty’s limits as long as the United States does the same. Ryabkov said Moscow remained open to finding political and diplomatic ways to stabilise the nuclear relationship in the future.
Analysis: Is Moscow Preparing the Ground for Another Round of Talks?
Russia’s latest message is significant less because it signals an immediate breakthrough and more because it keeps the diplomatic channel open while reinforcing Moscow’s conditions.
The Kremlin’s emphasis on the “realities on the ground” suggests that Russia wants territorial control to form the foundation of any future negotiations. This could make an agreement difficult because Ukraine and its European partners are unlikely to accept Moscow’s battlefield gains as automatically translating into permanent political concessions.
For Washington, the challenge is even broader. Any attempt to find a compromise must balance Russia’s demands, Ukraine’s territorial claims and European security concerns while managing the rapidly shifting strategic environment created by the Iran conflict.
The nuclear dimension adds another layer. With New START expired, continued U.S.-Russia dialogue could become increasingly important even if progress on Ukraine remains limited.
For now, Russia’s position appears to be open to negotiations, but only on terms shaped by the balance of power created by the war. The real test will be whether Washington can turn that limited openness into a framework that Kyiv, Moscow and Europe can all accept.
With information from Reuters.
