Lithuanian president: Russia’s peace demands in Ukraine are too high

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has warned that Russia’s demands in peace negotiations over Ukraine are “too high,” suggesting that Moscow’s lack of response may indicate an unwillingness to end the war, LRT reports.

“I greatly appreciate the efforts of the United States and the flexibility and diplomacy shown by Ukraine in pursuing a peaceful process. I believe the Ukrainian people sincerely want this terrible war to end and stop causing suffering,” Nausėda told Ziniu radijas on December 30.

“However, we are seeing a very limited reaction from the Kremlin, which prevents full optimism,” he added.

The remarks came after a recent round of talks in the United States between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Officials on both sides continue to struggle to reach an agreement over the future of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the partially occupied Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.

Nausėda highlighted that the US possesses leverage in negotiations with Russia, but said Moscow’s current demands are “disproportionate.”

“They could lead to a situation where the terms are simply unacceptable for one side: either if conditions favour Russia, they will be unacceptable for Ukraine, or vice versa,” he said.

The Lithuanian president added that he views the prospects for progress “cautiously, very cautiously,” but noted that the coming weeks should reveal whether Russia genuinely wants peace and is willing to engage in serious negotiations.

According to the current plan, revised after weeks of intense US–Ukraine discussions, the conflict would end along the existing front lines in eastern Donbas with the creation of a demilitarised zone, while Russia has long demanded territorial concessions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev