Russia Outlines Conditions for Peace in Ukraine: Non-Nuclear Status and Border Recognition

Sergei Naryshkin, the director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, has articulated Moscow’s key demands for a peaceful resolution. In a statement issued on April 15, 2025, Naryshkin emphasized that any agreement must include the maintenance of Ukraine’s nuclear-free status, the repeal of laws deemed discriminatory by Russia, and the formal recognition of Russian borders.

Naryshkin’s remarks highlight the essential components Russia believes are necessary to end the standoff that has persisted since 2022. This statement comes at a time when hostilities continue, and diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis are ongoing, signaling a firm position from Moscow.

The request for Ukraine’s nuclear-free status references the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, in which Kyiv agreed to relinquish its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security guarantees from several countries. Russia’s insistence on this point suggests a desire to eliminate any potential for Ukraine to reinstate nuclear capabilities, which Moscow views as a direct threat to its national security.

Furthermore, Naryshkin’s mention of “discriminatory laws” pertains to Ukrainian legislation affecting language policy and the rights of national minorities—issues that Russia has consistently criticized. Additionally, the demand for recognition of Russian borders likely includes an assertion of control over Crimea and the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson, territories whose annexation remains unacceptable to Kyiv.

The reaction to Naryshkin’s statement has been mixed, highlighting Russia’s uncompromising stance, which insists on these conditions as prerequisites for any negotiations. The lack of compromise proposals and the focus on territorial concessions present significant obstacles to reaching a peaceful agreement. As the conflict continues, the prospects for dialogue remain tenuous, with both sides entrenched in their positions.