Russia Open to Talks with U.S. on Ukraine, Awaits Signals from Washington

Russia's envoy to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, stated that Moscow is open to discussions with the U.S. regarding Ukraine but insists on negotiations on an "equal basis" while considering Russian interests. Speaking to Russia’s RIA news agency, Nebenzya emphasized that Russia is waiting for "appropriate signals" from Washington before engaging in talks.

His remarks came as former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that discussions with Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict were progressing, though he provided no details on recent conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an interview with the New York Post, Trump declined to disclose how often he had spoken to Putin or when their last conversation occurred. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov neither confirmed nor denied these talks.

Nebenzya noted that relations with U.S. diplomats at the U.N. had been generally stable but criticized the U.S. delegation under President Joe Biden’s administration for violating U.N. procedures. He accused Washington’s representatives of engaging in "extremely politicized diplomacy" but affirmed Russia’s willingness to collaborate with American officials. Despite Trump’s statements about resolving the war, Nebenzya expressed skepticism that significant changes would occur under his leadership, suggesting that U.S. political rhetoric is often shaped by domestic interests.

Trump has repeatedly promised to end the war in Ukraine but has yet to outline a clear plan. Last week, he stated that U.S. officials were in talks with both Russia and Ukraine about a resolution, though no further details were provided. With tensions high, Moscow continues to await concrete diplomatic engagement from Washington.