Russia does not rule out conflict with NATO, rejects Ukraine's peace formula

Nga không loại trừ xung đột với NATO, bác bỏ công thức hòa bình của Ukraine - 1 — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov (Photo: Interfax).

In an interview with the Izvestia daily on November 29, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that Moscow is ready to find common ground with NATO, but only on the basis of equality and mutual respect. He said that this is always difficult for the US-led military alliance.

"I don't think that relations between Russia and NATO will be restored in the near future. It cannot be for both principled and practical reasons. If someone in the West thinks that we need these relations and one day will come and ask for their restoration, this is the biggest mistake," he said.

When asked about the risk of a Russia-NATO conflict in the context of no prospect of normalizing relations in the near future, Mr. Ryabkov emphasized that it depends on NATO, but Moscow does not rule out the scenario of conflict between Russia and this alliance.

"It depends on NATO. For our part, we are ready to defend our national interests by any means," Deputy Minister Ryabkov said.

He also said that there is no prospect of peace talks between Russia and the West, which stems from the West's continued military aid to Kiev and Ukraine's insistence that President Volodymyr Zelensky's "peace formula" is the only basis for peace talks.

Late last year, Ukrainian President Zelensky proposed a 10-point peace formula as a condition for negotiating and signing a peace agreement with Russia. The proposal included demands for Russia to withdraw all troops, restore Ukraine to its 1991 borders, and pay war reparations.

However, Moscow has repeatedly rejected this peace formula, saying that these are unrealistic demands.

“Such a facility will not help to reach any agreement but will hinder dialogue. Therefore, we are not ready to consider anything,” Mr. Ryabkov said.

Asked whether Russia and Ukraine would reach a ceasefire next year, Deputy Minister Ryabkov said: "I don't think there will be a ceasefire. I think our special military operation will achieve its goals."

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has lasted for nearly two years but shows no signs of abating. Negotiations have stalled since late March last year.

Vladimir Medinsky, head of Russia's negotiating team with Ukraine, said on November 28 that Kiev could have ended the conflict in April 2022 by recognizing the independence of the separatist regions of Donetsk, Lugansk (or Donbass) and recognizing Crimea's annexation to Russia.

"Among our non-negotiable demands are recognition of Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, recognition of the independence of the Donbass region," he said.

Mr. Medinsky affirmed that "Russia has never set out to conquer Ukraine" and that the main goal of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine is to protect the Russian-speaking population.

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