Russian Foreign Minister has blamed the United States for the lack of progress in ending Russia’s war in Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the United States of abandoning earlier peace proposals during an interview with the Russian outlet TV BRICS on February 9, claiming Washington had undermined cooperation by imposing new sanctions, seizing Russian shadow fleet tankers, and introducing secondary tariffs on importers of Russian oil. Lavrov said that Russia and the United States had allegedly moved toward resolving the war and building broader cooperation during the August 2025 Alaska Summit, but argued that subsequent U.S. actions had created artificial obstacles to further dialogue.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov echoed Lavrov’s remarks, saying that the Alaska meeting produced several understandings that could have led to a breakthrough in peace negotiations. Russian officials have increasingly referred to the summit as a turning point, despite the absence of publicly released documents outlining any concrete agreements. The Kremlin has used this lack of transparency to claim that Moscow and Washington reached a mutual understanding on ending the war.

According to Institute for the Study of War (ISW) analysts, Russian officials are promoting a narrative that the Alaska discussions were based on principles outlined by President Vladimir Putin in a June 2024 speech, which demanded Ukrainian capitulation and sweeping concessions from NATO. The Kremlin is reportedly attempting to steer Washington away from broader multilateral negotiations involving Ukraine and European partners, instead pushing for a bilateral U.S.-Russia settlement largely aligned with Moscow’s strategic objectives.

Moscow seeks Ukraine's surrender under the guise of peace

Russia's public rhetoric about seeking “peace” in Ukraine masks its true objective: forcing Kyiv into full surrender. According to the latest assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Moscow continues to frame negotiations as a path to ending hostilities while simultaneously demanding conditions that would permanently cripple Ukraine's sovereignty and security. The core of Russia's position remains unchanged — the so-called “demilitarization” of Ukraine, which would impose strict limits on the size of the Armed Forces, types of weapons, and overall military capabilities. This is not a call for mutual disarmament or a balanced settlement; it is a deliberate attempt to ensure that Ukraine can never again effectively resist future aggression.

The second of Moscow's demands is “denazification” — it goes far beyond symbolic gestures and directly targets Ukraine's political system and its Government. ISW notes that Russia interprets this term as the complete removal of the current government and the installation of a regime loyal to the Kremlin. This would effectively dismantle Ukraine's democratic institutions, eliminate its independent leadership, and replace it with a puppet administration under Russian influence. Such a condition is incompatible with any genuine peace process, as it would erase Ukraine's statehood and turn the country into a de facto protectorate.

Russia's territorial ambitions extend quite beyond the four partially occupied regions (Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson). ISW highlights that Moscow views any agreement that does not also address its broader geopolitical demands — including permanent restrictions on NATO expansion and a reduction of the Alliance's presence near Russian borders — as unacceptable. Essentially, Russia is not negotiating for peace; it is demanding capitulation on multiple fronts. Analysts conclude that any settlement ignoring these maximalist requirements will not satisfy the Kremlin and is therefore unlikely to produce lasting stability or normalize relations between Russia, Ukraine, and the West.

Russia rejects US optimism in peace talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine remain far from complete, pushing back against recent U.S. claims of progress, in an interview with state-owned channel NTV aired on February 10. Lavrov cautioned against excessive optimism surrounding the talks, warning that public enthusiasm about recent developments risks creating unrealistic expectations.

His remarks contrasted with statements by U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, who recently said that Ukraine and Russia are closer than ever to reaching a peace agreement following renewed diplomatic efforts. Lavrov said negotiations were continuing but emphasized that significant work remains and that a final resolution is still distant.

The Russian foreign minister also dismissed growing narratives within Russia that Trump had forced Europe into submission and pressured President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept ceasefire terms. He said such interpretations were premature, stressing that while progress would be welcome, the current stage of talks does not yet justify claims that peace is imminent.