Moscow seeks talks on Ukraine but draws red lines on security

Russia is prepared to resume negotiations on the Ukraine conflict and discuss a broad range of issues, while seeking compromises, a senior lawmaker said, but ruled out concessions on what Moscow describes as the conflict’s root causes.

Konstantin Kosachev, deputy chairman of the Federation Council, said Moscow remains open to renewed talks and comprehensive discussions on Ukraine, according to remarks carried by the RIA Novosti news agency.

He emphasised, however, that certain issues are non-negotiable. “My personal conviction as a citizen of the Russian Federation on these issues: compliance with people’s rights, ensuring the security of the Russian Federation — there can simply be no compromises,” Kosachev said.

Kosachev also outlined Moscow’s expectations for a potential European Union interlocutor, saying any negotiator would need to command sufficient authority both within Europe and in Russia.

“This means that he must not be associated with the previous — at a minimum mistaken, at a maximum criminal — policy that the European Union has pursued in recent years toward our country, including in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. (...) Try to find such a European politician who would be sufficiently authoritative for us, but at the same time would not share responsibility for the actions of current European politicians,” he said.

By Tamilla Hasanova