Russia demands US 'formulate policy' to end war in Ukraine

The Russian Foreign Ministry has requested the United States to publish a plan to end the conflict in Ukraine, amid increasing speculation about when Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin might meet. Kremlin spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on Trump to outline the role the United States would play in negotiations. Moscow will determine its position based on the specific measures Washington takes to resolve the conflict.

Meanwhile, a new diplomatic dispute has erupted between the Kremlin and the United States' European allies, as the French government also provided a batch of fighter jets to Kyiv. Zakharova stated that Russia believes the White House lacks clarity on how to reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. She emphasized that everything will depend on concrete actions and the plans embodied by the new administration in those actions.

Zakharova said at a press conference in Moscow that there are currently many words and statements, but the steps the United States is taking are not clear, so it is too early to talk about the prospects for negotiations. She added that Washington should first formulate its policies, and Russia will act based on its specific steps and actions.

According to the Russian state news agency RIA, a senior politician stated that preparations for a meeting between the Russian President and the U.S. leader have entered an "advanced stage." According to public statements by officials from both sides, Putin and Trump have not spoken by phone since the U.S. presidential inauguration on January 20. Trump insisted before winning the election victory last November that he would end the Ukraine conflict "in one day." His Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, said last month that the conflict could end within 100 days of his inauguration.

The French government delivered the first batch of fighter jets to Ukraine on Thursday, as part of Europe's efforts to strengthen Kyiv's position in the conflict with Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron pledged last June to train Ukrainian pilots to fly Dassault-made Mirage 2000 fighter jets, marking a new stage in military support for Kyiv. Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu wrote on social media platform X: "Ukrainian pilots have been trained in France for several months, and they will now participate in defending Ukrainian skies." Ukrainian President Zelensky confirmed on X: "The first Mirage 2000 fighter jets from France have arrived, enhancing our air defense capabilities." For security reasons, Paris said it would not disclose how many fighter jets were delivered, although the aircraft have been modified to strike ground targets.

Ukraine has repeatedly urged its Western allies to provide it with increasingly advanced weapons and ammunition, including armored vehicles, tanks, long-range missiles, and U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets. The first F-16 fighter jets arrived in Ukraine in 2024, but their impact on the war has been limited due to the strength of the Russian Air Force. The Mirage 2000 is a multirole, single-engine jet fighter. A report by the French Parliament at the end of 2024 stated that six of the 26 Mirage 2000-5s owned by the French Air Force would be provided to Ukraine. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov also confirmed on Thursday that the Netherlands had delivered U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv. Umerov said on Facebook that the aircraft "will soon begin combat missions, strengthening our defense."

In the UK, the British Foreign Office said on Thursday it would revoke the accreditation of a Russian diplomat in retaliation for a similar move by Moscow last year. Russia said in November that it had expelled a British diplomat for allegedly engaging in espionage, which the British government denied. The British Foreign Office said in a statement that it had summoned the Russian ambassador to announce its decision, calling it a response to "Russia's unprovoked and unjustified decision in November to deprive a British diplomat of accreditation in Moscow." The statement said: "Any further actions taken by Russia will be seen as an escalation and will be met with an appropriate response." The statement did not name the British diplomat or the Russian official, and said Britain "will not tolerate intimidation of our staff in this way," calling its decision a reciprocal action. The Russian Embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment.