Russia insists that without the fulfillment of its main demands regarding Ukraine and the adherence to the “causes of the conflict,” it will not allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to have a respite or an opportunity to restart their operations
This was stated by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, emphasizing that any potential period of “calm” or “regrouping” for Ukrainian forces is possible only if Moscow’s conditions are met. The information came from his interview with the Russian state news agency TASS, which presents the official position of the Russian leadership in its efforts to prolong the conflict. Ryabkov noted that the return of former U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House gave Moscow “a reason for cautious optimism” regarding the prospects of improving relations with Washington. According to him, Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly confirmed his readiness to work on “eliminating the root causes of the conflict” during phone conversations with Trump, delegating diplomatic efforts to find compromises and stabilize the situation. However, he stressed that Moscow will not fall for provocations or calls for a “pause” in fighting if these conditions are not fulfilled. According to Ryabkov, the Kremlin is confident that its position is well known to the Biden administration, and threats of sanctions will not change the Ukrainian-Russian situation. “It’s surprising to see the U.S. Senate playing games with this conflict, given the reality,” the diplomat stated. “We will continue to work diligently to achieve our goals within the framework of the special operation. The choice and decision in this situation are up to Washington, to Trump. Russia will continue acting in accordance with its strategic interests and demands, giving Ukrainian forces no reason for a break or a reset of forces.”