Russia is open to talks for ending the conflict in Ukraine if US President-elect Donald Trump initiates it, Russia’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, told reporters on Thursday (Nov. 14), Reuters reported.
However, Gatilov added that any discussions would need to accept Russia’s current territorial gains.
Trump has frequently spoken against the extensive Western support for Ukraine and claimed he could end the conflict “within a day”, though he has not revealed how he would achieve this. His victory in the November 5 election has raised concerns in Kyiv and other European capitals about the future of US support for Ukraine.
“Trump promised to settle the Ukrainian crisis overnight. OK, let him try. But we are realistic people of course, we understand that this will never happen. But if he starts or suggests something to start the political process, it’s welcome,” Gatilov said.
Gatilov added that any negotiation would need to take into account the “realities on the ground,” adding that Ukraine has been losing ground in the two-year conflict. Gatilov said Trump’s election could offer a new chance for dialogue with the US, but he expressed doubt about a broader improvement in relations.
“The US political elite regardless of domestic political shifts, (Washington) consistently pursues a stance of containing Moscow, and this orientation is deeply rooted unfortunately, and the change of administration does little to alter it. The only shift (that) might be possible is dialogue between our countries, something that has been lacking during the last several years,” Gatilov said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, has consistently stressed that peace requires the complete withdrawal of Russian forces and the return of all territories occupied by Moscow. Addressing European leaders in Budapest last week, Zelensky warned that concessions to Russia would be “unacceptable for Ukraine and suicidal for all Europe.”
