After Trump’s Appeal, Russia Says Open To Negotiations On Ukraine

Last Updated:December 09, 2024, 22:46 IST

Trump had called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Ukraine after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

A day after US President-elect Donald Trump called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine following a meeting with French and Ukrainian leaders in Paris, Russia reiterated that it was open to negotiations and welcomed peace initiatives, particularly those coming from the Global South and Moscow’s BRICS partners.

“President Putin has repeatedly said Russia was open to negotiations on Ukraine and welcomed peace initiatives, primarily those coming from countries of the Global South, as well as our BRICS partners, including China, Brazil, and South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, which are engaged in work on the humanitarian track,” said Russia’s Foreign Ministry in a statement.

“Our stance on Ukraine is well known. The conditions required to cease the hostilities immediately were laid out by President Putin in June this year in his speech at Russia’s Foreign Ministry,” the ministry further said. In June, Putin proposed that Russia would end the war if Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions and handed over the entire four provinces claimed by Moscow.

Russia also blamed Ukraine for rejecting negotiations. The Foreign Ministry said Zelenskyy, by his own decree, had banned himself and his presidential office from making any engagements with the Russian leadership. “All Zelenskyy has to do to enter a trajectory of peace is to revoke this decree and issue an order to resume dialogue on the basis of arrangements made in Istanbul and with account taken of the realities taking shape on the ground,” the statement read.

What Did Trump Say On Ukraine War?

Trump called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to end “the madness” after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that Moscow and Kyiv have both lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers in a war that “should never have started.” “There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed,” he said, as he called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to act to bring the fighting to an end.

Reacting to Trump’s appeal, Zelenskyy said peace was not just a piece of paper, but needed guarantees. “When we talk about effective peace with Russia, we must first and foremost talk about effective guarantees for peace. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else,” he said on X.

Speaking to reporters later that day, Zelenskyy insisted that any peace deal “should be just” for Ukrainians, “so that Russia and Putin or any other aggressors will not have the opportunity to return.” Trump claimed Kyiv had lost some 400,000 soldiers, but Zelenskyy said 43,000 soldiers were killed so far since Russia’s all-out invasion in 2022.

Trump and Zelenskyy met in Paris for the reopening of the Norte-Dame Cathedral on Saturday, alongside host Macron. The French and Ukrainian sides said the discussions had been good and productive. “President Trump is, as always, resolute. I thank him. I also extend my gratitude to Emmanuel for organizing this important meeting,” Zelenskyy later said.

‘Syria Is Example Of Why Ukraine Needs…’: Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy highlighted the fall of Assad government in Syria to rebel forces as an example of why Ukraine needs the unwavering support of its allies. “The fall of the Assad regime wasn’t just the result of the strength of opposition forces. It also happened because Russia doesn’t have sufficient troops there. Why? Because the entire combat-ready Russian army is currently on Ukrainian territory,” he said.

“This clearly shows that the entire army of this pseudo-empire is currently waging war against the Ukrainian people. The same is already happening in Africa. We know that Wagner mercenaries were active there. We know how many Wagner fighters were eliminated in Ukraine,” he added.

Zelenskyy said if Ukraine falls, Putin will return to Syria to exact revenge, in Africa and in other regions that interest him. ” I believe it is essential for everyone to understand this: unity around Ukraine is the key to success—the shared success of the world. A success that unites. And unity that brings success,” he said.

The Kremlin has said repeatedly it will not negotiate with Zelenskyy unless Ukraine renounces its ambition to join NATO and withdraws troops from territories now controlled by Russian troops. However, those conditions are unacceptable to Ukraine.