Russia Waits For US Peace Plan Update To Match Putin-Trump Talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke on Tuesday about the ongoing peace efforts concerning the conflict in Ukraine. He said that Russia had welcomed the initial version of a US peace plan but is now waiting for an amended "interim" version. This updated plan is expected after the United States has completed discussions with Ukraine and its European allies.

Lavrov emphasized that the revised peace plan must reflect the "spirit and letter" of the agreements reached between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump during their summit in Alaska in August. The two leaders had outlined key principles for peace, which Lavrov said were present in the original plan.

The initial peace plan included important points such as Ukraine giving up any hopes of joining NATO, limiting the size of its army to 600,000 troops, and allowing Russia control over parts of the Donbas region, which would become a demilitarized zone. It also required Ukraine to hold elections within 100 days. However, many of these clauses have since been changed or postponed.

Lavrov warned that if the updated peace plan does not honor the agreements made in Alaska, Russia will view it very differently and may reject the proposal. He also mentioned that Russia is not rushing the United States but hopes to receive the revised text soon.

The Russian foreign minister made these remarks at a news conference in Moscow, ahead of further talks reportedly planned between Russian and US representatives in Abu Dhabi.

The Ukraine conflict, which began in 2022, has caused massive destruction and loss of life. Peace talks and proposals have been ongoing, but disagreements remain over the terms that would bring lasting peace to the region.

In summary, Russia supports a peace plan that matches the original understanding made by Putin and Trump. It awaits a revised US proposal before deciding on its acceptance, emphasizing that any changes to the key terms could lead to a different reaction from Moscow.