Russia Prepares for Ukraine Talks with Trump as War Intensifies

MOSCOW, Russia – As United States President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, Russia has signaled readiness for talks on Ukraine‘s future, with Kremlin officials expressing confidence in aligning with Trump’s worldview. Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Saturday, “No special conditions are needed for this. What is required is the mutual intent and political will to have a dialogue.”

Putin aide Nikolai Patrushev emphasized that any settlement should exclude Ukraine and the European Union, asserting that territorial concessions are “not even up for discussion.” Patrushev drew parallels between Russia’s actions in Ukraine and Trump’s controversial remarks about absorbing Panama, suggesting a shared perspective on redrawing borders for economic and security interests.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed this sentiment, advising Trump to consider the wishes of territories like Greenland, akin to Russia’s approach in Crimea and Donbas. Lavrov framed the Ukraine conflict as a matter of Russian security, dismissing Ukraine’s territorial integrity as irrelevant. “This is not about Ukraine itself but about Ukraine being used as a tool to weaken Russia’s position in the European security framework,” he said.

Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine continues to escalate. Ukrainian forces have captured North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region, raising questions about Moscow’s military alliances. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded, a significant portion of the forces deployed in December.

Ukraine has also intensified its attacks on Russian infrastructure, targeting key facilities like the Kombinat Kristal oil storage and the Bryansk Chemical Plant. Ukrainian officials have criticized Western nations for continuing to import Russian energy, which they argue funds Moscow’s aggression. “It’s time to cut off the petrodollar flow fueling Russia’s aggression,” said Ukrainian presidential adviser Vladyslav Vlasiuk.

As global powers watch Trump’s inauguration, the conflict in Ukraine shows no signs of abating, with both sides preparing for a protracted struggle.