Nebenzya Voices New Russian Demands To Ukraine
- 31.05.2025, 9:18
Russia rejects U.S. cease-fire offer.
Russia "as a matter of principle" is ready to consider the possibility of establishing a ceasefire regime, but for this it requires Ukraine to refuse military aid from Western countries for the duration of the ceasefire and stop mobilization in the country. Such theses were expressed by the Russian Federation's Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya, speaking at a meeting of the organization's Security Council on Friday, May 30, "Deutsche Welle" reported.
According to the Russian representative to the UN, the Russian delegation is ready to provide the Ukrainian side with its memorandum on a possible ceasefire on June 2 in Istanbul. Nebenzya did not give details about the document, but said that Russia is "not satisfied with the situation" that would allow Kiev to regroup during a short-term ceasefire and "stop the collapse of the eastern front." At the same time, Moscow's representative said that Russia wanted to first agree with Ukraine on the "parameters and conditions" of a possible long-term peace, and then agree on a ceasefire.
Nebenzia also said that the Istanbul talks between Russia and Ukraine should be seen as a continuation of the meetings of the countries' delegations in 2022. During them, Russia made demands to Kiev for, among other things, a nuclear-free and non-aligned status for Ukraine, a reduction in the number of military personnel in the country, and recognition of the territories occupied and annexed by Russia at the time. Ukraine immediately rejected this interpretation of the new negotiation process.
In the same speech at the UN Security Council, Nebenzya insulted Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him an "overdue president" and made threats against Germany in view of statements by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about the production of long-range weapons jointly with Ukraine. The Russian official also said that Russian forces in Ukraine "are capable of continuing and escalating combat operations for as long as necessary."