Russia names conditions for peace in Ukraine

According to Shoigu, the aggressor country allegedly "never refused" a diplomatic settlement. At the same time, he said war cannot be ended until its "root causes" are eliminated.

In particular, the Russian Security Council secretary stressed that Ukraine must return to "non-aligned, neutral and non-nuclear principles."

"We are interested in the final and complete return of Ukraine as a non-nuclear and non-aligned country. Most importantly, it must be a country that respects the rights of citizens living on its territory. In this case, of course, we are interested in people who speak Russian, people deprived of the right to speak their language," he said.

In addition, Shoigu also mentioned the West, which, according to him, is "deliberately prolonging" the conflict.

Negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the US

Since the beginning of 2026, several rounds of trilateral negotiations have taken place. The main issue that has not yet been resolved is control over the non-occupied territories of Donbas.

In particular, the aggressor country insists on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, Ukraine proposes freezing positions along the frontline, while the US supports the creation of a free economic zone in these territories.

The New York Times wrote that neither Ukraine nor Russia has a clear plan for either peace or victory. Publication noted that without the active role of Washington and significant influence on Russia, the prospect of reaching an agreement remains elusive.

At the same time, head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov stated that peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are moving toward reaching an agreement. He said the process of ending the war may not take much time.