Russia’s UN ambassador, Vasily Nebenzia, said Moscow is willing to consider a ceasefire — but only if Ukraine stops mobilizing troops and the West ends arms deliveries.
Nebenzia’s remarks come ahead of the new round of peace talks scheduled for 2 June in Istanbul. Ukraine has urged Russia to publish its proposed peace plan beforehand. Officials in Kyiv fear Russia will issue demands they view as unacceptable, including troop withdrawals from areas Russia is trying to annex.
“We are ready to consider a ceasefire,” Nebenzia said, “but we expect reciprocal steps.”
He called for a halt in Western military support and Ukraine’s mobilization efforts as a minimum requirement.
Ukraine has dismissed similar conditions before, warning that Moscow could use any pause to regroup and gain ground on the battlefield.
Moscow escalates rhetoric at UN
Nebenzia also claimed Russia would not tolerate what he called “an anti-Russian neo-Nazi entity” near its borders — language often used by Moscow to delegitimize Ukraine’s Western orientation.
“If necessary, we will fight for this as long as it takes,” he added.
Ukraine urges immediate international pressure
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the speech, saying Moscow was using the UN platform to threaten rather than negotiate.
“This is a slap in the face to everyone calling for peace,” Sybiha wrote on X.
“Pressure on Moscow must be increased — immediately.”
