Russia says US relations ‘on the brink of a breakup,’ won’t confirm Trump-Putin talk

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov raised concerns this week that relations between Washington, D.C., and Moscow are teetering on the brink of collapse. Ryabkov echoed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stance that peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved unless the country abandons its aspirations to join NATO and relinquishes Russian-occupied territories.

“We urgently need to impress upon the new U.S. administration that without addressing the root causes of the crisis in Ukraine, reaching a resolution will be impossible,” Ryabkov emphasized during a press conference.

While President Donald Trump indicated that he had spoken with Putin, a spokesperson for the Russian leader declined to confirm the call.

Trump expressed his desire to end the war in Ukraine, stating, “I hate to see all these young people being killed. The soldiers are being killed by the hundreds of thousands.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is gearing up to meet with Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference. Zelenskyy confirmed his readiness to engage in negotiations with President Trump, expressing his willingness to provide the U.S. with rare-earth minerals in exchange for continued support in the conflict.

Zelenskyy has also signaled his openness to peace talks with Russia to bring an end to the three-year-long war, although the specific terms for a peace agreement remain uncertain.

The Ukrainian president is seeking guarantees for future security assurances for his country, considering that Russia has breached its previous agreement with Ukraine, the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, on two occasions.

Zelenskyy’s proposal to trade Ukraine’s mineral resources, a significant portion of which are located in now Russian-controlled territories, including rare-earth minerals, was initially presented in his “victory plan” to Western allies last year.

It is evident that resolving the crisis in Ukraine will require diplomatic finesse and a multifaceted approach. Zelenskyy’s efforts to secure peace and security for his country amid escalating tensions with Russia underscore the complexity of the situation.

Anders Hagstrom, a reporter with Fox News Digital, covers national politics and major breaking news events. For tips, reach out to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com or follow him on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.