Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Moscow believes Russia and Ukraine are “on the verge” of a diplomatic agreement to end the war, according to an exclusive interview with ABC News. Ryabkov said Russia is prepared to reach a deal and expressed hope that an agreement could come sooner rather than later.
U.S. Officials See Progress
U.S. administration officials echoed cautious optimism, telling reporters that roughly 90% of the issues separating the two sides have been resolved. Both Moscow and Kyiv are currently working with American representatives as part of the White House’s latest effort to broker an end to the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Territorial Demands Remain a Major Obstacle
Despite the optimistic tone, Ryabkov reaffirmed Russia’s long-standing demand for control over Crimea and four other partially occupied regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. He said Moscow cannot compromise on these territories, a position Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected.
Opposition to NATO Troops in Ukraine
Ryabkov also ruled out any agreement that would allow NATO troops to be stationed in Ukraine after the war, even as part of a security guarantee. He said Russia would not accept the presence of foreign NATO forces on Ukrainian soil under any circumstances.
Kremlin Language and War Framing
In the interview, Ryabkov avoided calling Russia’s actions a war, instead using the Kremlin’s term “special military operation.” He said the conflict would end depending on whether Ukrainian authorities and their supporters accept what he described as Russia’s inevitable success.
Justification of the Invasion
Russian officials have consistently framed the invasion as a measure to protect ethnic Russians in Ukraine. Ryabkov said he sympathized with those affected by the fighting, arguing that Russia’s actions were intended to ensure that many of them would ultimately be better off as part of Russia.
Broader U.S.-Russia Relations
Ryabkov, a senior figure in Russia’s Foreign Ministry since 2008, said progress on broader issues such as nuclear and arms control talks with the United States would depend on what he called irreversible changes in Washington’s policy toward Moscow. He also suggested that a future meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump remains possible as peace discussions continue.
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