Russian Deputy Minister Alexander Grushko reportedly said he wanted a “iron chain” guarantee that the Kremlin would ban Ukraine from joining the North Atlantic Treaty Agency (NATO) as the Kremlin works to mediate transactions to end the battle.
According to Reuters, Grushko was quoted as saying it was from the Russian newspaper Izvestia. “Part of these assurances should be a neutral position in Ukraine, which NATO countries have refused to accept into the alliance.”
Grushko reportedly made no mention of the 30-day ceasefire proposal accepted in Saudi Arabia last week by US negotiators and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the agreement must first meet important conditions.
Trump and Putin are expected this week.
In this pool photo, distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin will chair a security board meeting on March 14, 2025, through a video conference at a residence in Noboogalyavo province, on the outskirts of Moscow. (Aleksey Babushkin/Pool/AFP Getty Images)
The US Special Envoy to Middle Eastern Steve Witkov told CNN on Sunday that Trump and Putin are expected to speak on the phone this week. Witkov himself said there will be a “positive” and “solution-based” meeting with Putin in Moscow last week.
Grushko reportedly reportedly in an interview with Izvestia that Russia has repeatedly opposed the deployment of European troops into Ukraine, as it signaled that the UK, France and Australia are open to sending NATO “peacekeeping” forces to the country.
“It's not a problem under the label that NATO conditioning should be deployed on Ukrainian territory. Whether it's the European Union, NATO, or national capabilities,” Grushko said. “If they appear there, that means they are deployed in the conflict zone, along with all the consequences of these forces as parties to the conflict.”
Russian Deputy Minister Alexander Gurshko will attend a meeting of the Russian Foreign Minister and the OSCE Secretary-General in Moscow on March 11, 2025. (via Maxim Shemetov/Pool/AFP Getty Images)
“We have never come this close to peace since Russia invaded Ukraine,” Levitt told reporters.
“We can talk about unarmed observers, a civilian mission to monitor the implementation of individual aspects of this Agreement,” Grushko added, noting that the deal must first be reached. “In the meantime, it's just a heat.”
British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer held a virtual meeting with 26 countries that could become involved in Ukraine's “peacekeeping forces” on Saturday, the telegraph reported.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron was quoted Saturday in French media as saying to several media outlets that “will deploy thousands of men at key points to implement training programs” and “showing long-term support.”
“If Ukraine asks the allied forces to be in its territory, it doesn't depend on Russia whether or not they accept it,” Macron said.
French President Emmanuel Macron is taking part in a video call as he attends a virtual summit held by the British Prime Minister at Elisee Palace in Paris on March 15, 2025, focusing on peace and security in Ukraine. (Kiran Ridley/Pool/AFP Getty Images)
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was willing to send troops.
Grushko further argued that the three-year conflict resolution could only be maintained if Ukraine understands to Kyiv that it must be banned from NATO membership and foreign military forces must be excluded.
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“Then one of the root causes of the conflict is eliminated, ensuring that Ukraine and the entire region are safer in a broader sense,” Grushko said.
