Russia pressures US with nuclear and economic lures to push ties – ISW
Photo: US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin (Gety Images)
The Kremlin is pressuring Washington with nuclear threats and economic incentives to normalize relations, but at the same time rejects negotiations with Ukraine and deliberately prolongs the war, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The report recalled the words of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on October 1 that the third round of US-Russian discussions to address "irritants" will "definitely take place before the end of autumn [2025]", but a specific date has not yet been agreed upon.
He also noted that Moscow is awaiting a response from US President Donald Trump regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent proposal to extend the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).
This document entered into force on February 5, 2011, but the Kremlin proposes to extend it for one year after its expiration on February 5, 2026.
In addition, Ryabkov stressed that the US must either "pursue stabilization" with Russia or enter into "a new arms race, which [Russia] opposes, even though [Russia is] guaranteed to ensure [its] own security."
At the same time, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on October 1 that Russia cannot plan high-level contacts with Ukraine because Kyiv has halted the negotiation process.
Discrediting Ukraine
According to experts at the Institute for the Study of War, these messages demonstrate Russia's attempts to normalize bilateral relations with the US for economic and political gain.
At the same time, analysts noted, the Kremlin is prolonging the war in Ukraine to gain additional advantages on the battlefield and is hindering peace efforts.
"Russia is also attempting to discredit Ukraine by baselessly accusing the Ukrainian government of halting the negotiation process to distract from Russia’s uncompromising demands that amount to Ukraine’s full capitulation," the ISW report notes.
Trump's sanctions threats
Throughout the summer, US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to impose tough sanctions on Russia for refusing to negotiate and end the war in Ukraine. However, such restrictions have not yet been imposed.
In early September, Trump threatened the Kremlin with a strong blow to Russian oil and banks and stressed that patience is running out very quickly.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the US would provide Ukraine with intelligence data for strikes on energy facilities in Russia. The Ukrainian Armed Forces may also receive American long-range missiles.
Meanwhile, according to statistics, in 2024, Russia will be the largest importer of fuel for nuclear reactors at US nuclear power plants.
