Russia's acknowledged targets in its conflict towards Ukraine stay unachieved regardless of ongoing diplomatic efforts to begin peace negotiations, Russian International Ministry's Ambassador-at-Giant Rodion Miroshnik mentioned on Feb. 25, in response to the Russian state-owned information company TASS.
"The targets of the Particular Navy Operation haven’t but been achieved," Miroshnik mentioned, utilizing the Kremlin's time period for its conflict towards Ukraine.
The targets embrace Russia's failure to totally occupy Ukraine's 4 areas it has illegally annexed and the necessity to guarantee Kyiv not "poses a risk" to Moscow.
"The constitutional territories of Russia haven’t been liberated," he mentioned.
Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, adopted by Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts in 2022.
Moscow doesn’t management all of those territories, together with the regional capitals of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded Ukraine withdraw from all 4 oblasts as a situation for negotiations.
Miroshnik mentioned that whereas army targets stay unachieved, Russia might try to realize them by way of future negotiations.
Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned on Feb. 24 that Moscow would comply with a ceasefire provided that negotiations yield a "sustainable end result" that "fits" Russia.
The U.S. held direct talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18, excluding Ukraine from the assembly. The choice sparked criticism in Kyiv and Europe, with leaders involved about being sidelined in negotiations.
Preparations are underway for a gathering between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin, with Russian Deputy International Minister Sergei Ryabkov saying it might occur by the tip of February.
Trump mentioned on Feb. 24 that Russia's conflict towards Ukraine might finish "inside weeks" and claimed Putin would settle for European peacekeepers in Ukraine as a part of a possible deal.
The U.Okay. is reportedly getting ready a plan to deploy 30,000 European troops as a post-ceasefire safety assure.
Western intelligence officers have expressed skepticism about Moscow's willingness to barter in good religion. NBC Information reported on Feb. 18 that Putin will not be critical a few peace deal and is as a substitute utilizing talks to consolidate Russian territorial features.
The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta