Russia says talks to end Ukraine war serious' but rules out concessions

"Kremlin spokesman says talks ongoing as US President Donald Trump pushes for an end to the conflict. Russia says the United States-brokered talks to end the war with Ukraine are serious, but its officials caution that an agreement is a long way off and Moscow would offer no major concessions to Kyiv. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in televised comments on Wednesday that the negotiations were ongoing and the process is serious."

"US President Donald Trump has put forward a 28-point plan the details of which were leaked last week and is sending his top negotiator Steve Witkoff to Moscow in the coming days as his administration pushes to end the nearly four-year war. But Ukraine and its European allies had raised concerns that the US proposal endorsed several Russian demands, including that Ukraine cede additional territory, curb the size of its military and be barred from joining NATO."

"While welcoming the US efforts, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters on Wednesday that there can be no question of any concessions or any surrender of our approaches to those key points. Jim Townsend, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Al Jazeera that Russia likely perceives Trump as impatient and unfocused and will deploy delay tactics to avoid concessions."

Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, brokered by the United States, are ongoing and characterized as serious, though agreement remains distant and Moscow refuses major concessions. US President Donald Trump proposed a 28-point plan and is sending negotiator Steve Witkoff to Moscow as part of efforts to end the nearly four-year war. Ukraine and European allies raised concerns that the original proposal endorsed Russian demands to cede territory, reduce military capacity, and forgo NATO membership; the proposal has been modified to address some concerns. Russian officials insist there will be no surrender on key points, analysts warn Russia may use delay tactics, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed readiness to advance the US-backed framework.

Read at www.aljazeera.com