Russia Open to New Ukraine Peace Ideas, With Conditions
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- Sergei Ryabkov told News.ru that Russia is open to hearing new proposals on Ukraine but any deal must reflect the 'realities on the ground,' citing U.S. readiness for 'constructive dialogue.'
- Ryabkov said Russia is ready to listen to Marco Rubio's new ideas and continue talks with Washington, while questioning how much influence the U.S. can exert over Kyiv and 'its European sponsors.'
- U.S.-Russia negotiations have largely stalled amid the war in Iran, and the Kremlin said it had no information on a possible next visit by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
- After almost 4½ years of war, Russia holds around a fifth of Ukraine's internationally recognized territory — the 'realities' Moscow insists any settlement must recognize.
- Ryabkov also signaled Moscow wants to sustain nuclear weapons discussions with Washington, noting the New START treaty expired in February, leaving the two largest nuclear powers without binding constraints on their strategic arsenals for the first time in over half a century.
- Moscow has said it will keep observing the treaty's missile and warhead limits as long as Washington does the same.
Why it matters: Russia controlling roughly a fifth of Ukraine's territory means 'realities on the ground' is shorthand for legitimizing those gains rather than negotiating them away. The expired New START treaty removes the only remaining cap on U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals for the first time in 50+ years, giving the parallel nuclear track outsized stakes independent of the Ukraine file.
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