Russia Repeats Old Peace Demands in Secret Message to U.S., Sources Say

Post by : Saif Nasser

Russia has once again repeated its old peace demands on Ukraine in a private message to the United States, according to American officials and people familiar with the talks. The message, sent over the weekend, has made it clear that Moscow is not ready to accept U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire based on current battle lines.

Russia Sends “Non-Paper” to the U.S.

The message came in the form of a “non-paper,” which is an informal diplomatic note used to quietly share a country’s position without making it an official statement. Two U.S. officials and one person aware of the situation confirmed the existence of the document.

In this secret communication, Russia repeated its demand that it must have full control of all of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. The Donbas includes the provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk, where heavy fighting has taken place since 2014. One official said this demand clearly shows Moscow still rejects Trump’s idea of stopping the war with the frontlines frozen as they are now.

Russia’s Firm Conditions

According to sources, Russia also repeated another long-standing condition — that no NATO troops should ever be deployed in Ukraine as part of any future peace deal. This has been one of Russia’s biggest concerns since the war began, as Moscow views NATO’s presence near its borders as a direct threat.

These firm conditions were seen by many diplomats as proof that Russia is not yet ready to compromise or make any major concessions for peace.

Trump-Putin Summit in Doubt

The news about this “non-paper” came at the same time as reports that a planned summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, is now uncertain.

A White House official said on Tuesday that “there are no plans for that meeting in the immediate future.” The Russian embassy in Washington did not respond when asked for comment.

This development shows growing frustration in Washington, where U.S. officials hoped that talks could lead to progress in ending the war, which has now lasted for more than three years.

Trump: “No Wasted Meeting”

When asked about the latest communication from Russia, President Trump told reporters that he had not yet decided whether to go ahead with the summit. “I don’t want to have a wasted meeting,” Trump said, adding that he still believed a ceasefire along the current frontlines was possible.

Trump spoke with Putin over the phone last Thursday, after which he said that the meeting in Budapest might happen within two weeks. However, after seeing Russia’s repeated demands, it now seems unlikely that the two sides will meet soon.

Proposal to Ukraine Rejected

Reports from Reuters and other media say that during a private meeting last Friday, U.S. officials discussed a proposal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The plan — originally suggested by the Kremlin — would require Ukraine to give up the entire Donbas region to Russia in exchange for small portions of land in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

According to people familiar with the meeting, President Zelenskiy immediately rejected the idea. He made it clear that Ukraine would not trade land for peace, as doing so would reward Russian aggression.

Following that meeting, President Trump publicly stated that he supports freezing the frontlines where they are now and starting a ceasefire from that position — a stance that is closer to Ukraine’s position than Russia’s.

Russia Refuses to Bend

Diplomats in Washington and Europe say Russia’s latest message proves it is still holding to “maximalist” goals — wanting more territory and tighter control before agreeing to stop fighting. This makes it much harder to reach any deal that both sides can accept.

Russia already controls nearly all of Luhansk and most of Donetsk, but it continues to push for more land. Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, have fought fiercely to hold their positions in the face of heavy artillery attacks.

The war has left thousands dead and millions displaced. Cities across eastern Ukraine remain in ruins, with basic infrastructure destroyed and food supplies limited in many areas.

Growing Pressure on Trump

President Trump faces growing pressure from both European leaders and his own advisers to stand firm against Moscow’s demands. European governments fear that any deal allowing Russia to keep captured territory would encourage further aggression.

The European Union, Britain, France, and Germany have all repeated their call for an immediate ceasefire that keeps the current battle lines as the basis for peace talks. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also traveled to Washington this week to discuss the issue with Trump.

Analysts say that if Russia does not soften its position, the planned Budapest summit could be delayed indefinitely.

Uncertain Future for Peace

For now, there are no signs that either side is willing to compromise. Russia continues to insist on taking more territory, while Ukraine refuses to surrender its land.

The U.S. hopes that diplomatic pressure from Europe and other allies may eventually convince Moscow to agree to a ceasefire, but progress remains slow.

As one Western diplomat put it, “The war will not end as long as Russia refuses to accept the reality on the ground.”

President Trump has said he remains “hopeful” that peace can be achieved soon, but for now, the road to a deal between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv looks as difficult as ever.