Russia Rejects U.S. Plans to End the War in Ukraine

What Happened?

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the current U.S. plan to end the war in Ukraine cannot be accepted in its current form.

He went on to say the main reason is because the U.S. plans do not address any of what Russia regards as the root causes for the beginning of the conflict. 

President Trump recently made comments that he is “pissed off” at Russian President Putin, adding “you could say I was very angry because we’re not going in the right direction.”

Why it Matters

While Washington D.C. and Moscow have been focused on finding a way to end the war in Ukraine through high-level diplomacy, on the Ukrainian front lines fighting is still ongoing. 

Many of the troops engaged in combat in the eastern portions of Ukraine regard peace talks as something from a parallel universe because they seem so far removed from the reality of their daily lives.

Russian President Putin recently said he does not regard Ukrainian President Zelensky as a legitimate president. He suggested an interim government would be needed in order for Russia to sign a lasting peace deal. 

What Mr. Putin is likely after is the installation of a pro-Russian government in Ukraine that will do his bidding. In much the same way the regime of former Ukrainian President Yanukovych did prior to the start of the war in 2013. 

Mr. Putin’s effort to out Zelensky and install a Russian puppet while criticizing America’s plans for not addressing the root causes of the war is ironic. Russia’s effort to control the Ukrainian government was itself the single largest causal factor for the beginning the war. 

Most Ukrainians do not want to live under a government that takes orders from Moscow. They have signaled a willingness to continue fighting indefinitely in order to prevent that.

How long Ukraine can keep fighting the war is unclear. But it is likely they can keep fighting for the remainder of this year and probably next year too. 

Europe has provided almost as many arms and aid to Ukraine as the United States, and European nations have pledged to continue their support. That means Ukraine could likely sustain its war effort even without additional large shipments of arms and aid from the United States. 

But in a sense Russia is correct about the American plans not addressing the root causes of the war in Ukraine. No one in the Trump Administration has even hinted that Russia should stop trying to control the government in Kiev. 

How it Affects You

The longer the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, the greater the chances it could spread to a larger war between NATO and Russia, which would involve the United States. 

With Russia unwilling to make any concessions and Ukrainians unwilling to live under Russian rule, it is likely the fighting will continue for some time.