Ukraine peace talks hit roadblock: Tensions over demands
Positive changes in the process of resolving the conflict in Ukraine are possible, but probably not in the near future, declared Grigoriy Karasin, chairman of the Federation Council's International Affairs Committee, who participated in negotiations in Saudi Arabia.
In an interview with Rossiya24, Putin's negotiator suggested that progress might not occur this year or even by the end of the year.
Russia sets demands. Putin does not want peace
The senator described the meetings as "calm" and "constructive," but acknowledged their limited effectiveness. He noted, - It would be naive to expect any groundbreaking results at the first meeting - .
According to Karasin, key negotiation topics between Russia and the USA included maritime security in the Black Sea, restoring Russian agricultural exports, and including Rosselkhozbank in the SWIFT system.
The senator emphasized that working with the American delegation is feasible because its representatives "listen, accept, and state their own positions." He also expressed confidence that such meetings would continue and that new tasks would be assigned to the Russian negotiation team.
Negotiations on a ceasefire in Ukraine
Karasin clarified that during hours-long consultations in Riyadh, the American side initially set unacceptable conditions to Russia. According to him, the US representatives initially tried to act as mediators, making decisions for both sides, but quickly realized "that won’t work with the Russian side."
The negotiations in Riyadh began on March 23. The American delegation held separate meetings with representatives of Ukraine and Russia, concluding them on March 25. Based on the results, the White House announced an agreement on a ceasefire in the Black Sea area.
Agreement on navigation in the Black Sea
According to a US administration statement, the agreement ensures navigation safety and prohibits the use of force in that region. In response, Washington expressed readiness to support the restoration of Russian food exports to global markets.
Soon after, the Kremlin presented its interpretation of the agreements, stating that ending hostilities is only possible if a series of conditions are met, including lifting sanctions against Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions vital for food exports. Moscow also demanded restoring access for these banks to the SWIFT system and foreign currency accounts.
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, accused Russian authorities of "manipulating and distorting agreements" in response.
They are already trying to distort agreements and, in fact, deceive both our intermediaries and the entire world — he said.
On March 26, the European Union rejected Russian demands to ease the sanctions regime as part of the agreement discussed. Anitta Hippler, a representative of the European Commission, stated that the EU does not intend to lift sanctions until Russia's aggression against Ukraine ends and troops are unconditionally withdrawn from its territory.
Later, at a summit in Paris dedicated to Ukraine's security, European leaders confirmed that lifting sanctions against Russia is impossible under the current conditions.
