MOSCOW — The Kremlin has officially rejected critical components of the 20-point peace framework proposed by the Trump administration, dealing a significant blow to hopes for a swift end to the nearly four-year-old conflict.
In a stern statement released on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova labeled the emerging security guarantees—which include the deployment of European peacekeepers—as "dangerous" and "destructive." She further characterized the alliance between Kyiv and its Western backers as a "genuine axis of war."
Key Obstacles to the Peace Deal:
Foreign Troops: Moscow has explicitly stated that any deployment of military units or infrastructure from Western nations on Ukrainian soil will be classified as "foreign intervention" and viewed as legitimate military targets.
Security Guarantees: While President Trump has pushed for a 15-year security guarantee for Ukraine, Russia insists it will not accept any Western military presence that keeps Ukraine within the Western orbit.
The Zaporizhzhia Stalemate: Russia has also dismissed proposals for a joint U.S.-Ukrainian-Russian operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), asserting full Russian sovereignty over the facility.
Despite the Trump administration's efforts to broker a settlement through Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, the Kremlin’s refusal to compromise on its "maximalist" demands suggests that a ceasefire remains a distant prospect. Meanwhile, heavy Russian airstrikes continue to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which President Zelenskyy cites as clear evidence that Putin is not yet ready for a genuine peace.