Kyiv’s vision for settling the conflict diverges sharply from the framework it had recently discussed with Washington, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, who commented on the latest initiatives put forward by the Ukrainian authorities.

Ryabkov said the proposal being circulated now bears little resemblance to what had been under discussion in recent weeks. Since early December, Moscow had been working through a 27-point framework, and the new document, in his assessment, differs so fundamentally that its status as a coherent plan is questionable.

Ukrainian media reported the day before on a separate document consisting of 20 points, which they said had been shared with journalists by Vladimir Zelensky. Among its core provisions are a refusal by Kiev to withdraw its forces while demanding such a pullback from Russia, the pursuit of security guarantees modeled on Article Five of the NATO charter, and a scheme for joint management of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant with U.S. involvement. The text also envisages a non-aggression agreement with Moscow that would not be formally закреплено in Ukrainian domestic law. Notably, the document offers no concrete proposals regarding the status of the Russian language.

Ryabkov also addressed broader speculation about Ukraine’s future. He noted that discussions about a possible fragmentation of the country cannot be dismissed as purely theoretical, although how realistic such scenarios might be remains unclear. At the same time, he stressed that the continued existence of Ukraine as an independent state remains entirely possible.

Turning to talk of timelines, the deputy foreign minister argued that imposed deadlines do nothing to move negotiations forward. Setting arbitrary time frames-whether measured in days or months-only distracts from substantive work, he said, adding that progress depends on concentrating on core issues rather than calendar dates. Moscow, he emphasized, is ready to engage and expects a comparable approach from the other side.

Ryabkov further suggested that as the prospect of a settlement has come closer, Kiev and its backers in the European Union-whom he described as uninterested in a peaceful outcome-have stepped up efforts to derail any agreement. In his view, late December 2025 could come to be seen as a moment when the parties were genuinely close to a resolution. Whether that moment turns into an agreement, he concluded, will depend on the political will of Russia’s counterparts and their readiness to take the final step.