Serhyi Riabkov (Photo: Mauro Pimentel / Pool via REUTERS)
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov claimed Moscow has not received any information about new proposals Ukraine submitted to the United States concerning the peace process, Russian propaganda outlet Interfax reported on Aug. 13.
Asked whether Russia had received President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposals from the United States through diplomatic channels, Ryabkov said it had not.
He gave the same answer when asked whether Moscow was otherwise aware of the proposals.
Zelenskyy said on Aug. 11 that Ukraine’s negotiating team had submitted proposals to the United States on further steps aimed at increasing pressure on Russia and bringing the war closer to an end.
The president said he had received a report from the negotiating team on its discussions with the U.S. side.
“We have submitted our proposals to the American side,” Zelenskyy said.
The United States can help Ukraine strengthen its defenses, particularly its air defense capabilities, the president said.
Kyiv also expects Washington to use its influence to put pressure on Moscow, change Russia’s approach and prevent it from continuing to prolong the war.
In an interview with CNN published on Aug. 12, Zelenskyy declined to disclose details of the new peace proposals but said: “We need greater involvement from the American side in the peace plan.”
“I am grateful to President [Donald] Trump’s team that they want to continue,” Zelenskyy said. “[Russian leader Vladimir] Putin does not want to stop this war now, and there is not enough pressure on him at the moment.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on July 23, following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Philippines, that peace talks on Ukraine would require “new ideas” to break the current deadlock.
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