“We want to resolve the Ukraine peace agreement issue through dialogue with President Trump” – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov

“We want to resolve the Ukraine peace agreement issue through dialogue with President Trump” – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov

[Moscow, July 15, 2025] – Russia is seeking direct diplomatic dialogue with the United States regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. He stated that the crisis should be addressed through discussions with President Trump, not through “pressure or ultimatums.”

In a statement to the Russian state news agency TASS, Ryabkov said:

“We need to focus on political and diplomatic efforts. We never welcome any ultimatums.”

Trump’s 50-Day Deadline and Warning

His comments come at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has announced:

“If no peace agreement is reached to end the Ukraine war within the next 50 days, the United States will impose up to 100% secondary sanctions on countries trading with Russia.”

As part of a new policy plan, Trump has also pledged extensive military aid to Ukraine — but stated that all associated costs must be covered by European allies.

Moscow’s Position: Diplomacy, But Not on Conditional Terms

Ryabkov’s statement makes it clear that while Moscow is open to resolving the crisis through diplomacy, it is unwilling to participate in talks with preconditions. He added:

“We are interested in dialogue, but it must be based on mutual respect and realism.”

According to Russian diplomatic circles, the conditions and threats from the Trump administration may actually hinder the creation of a constructive environment for dialogue.

Dialogue vs Pressure

Analysts believe that Russia’s message is a subtle yet clear response to Trump’s strategy of applying pressure. Moscow wants to signal its openness to negotiations, but rejects any “deal-or-punishment” approach coming from Washington.