The United States warned on 29 May it may withdraw from peace negotiations if Russia continues the war, following some of the largest Russian attacks since the war began.
“If Russia makes the wrong decision to continue this catastrophic war, the United States will have to consider stepping back from negotiation efforts to end the conflict,” said John Kelley, acting US alternate representative to the UN, during a Security Council meeting.
Kelley said the US has “worked tirelessly with both sides, seeking a path to peace” since the UN called for an end to the war three months ago.
“Ukraine has unequivocally agreed, awaiting Russia’s agreement to do the same,” he said.
The diplomat condemned Russia’s weekend missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. “This disregard for human life does not indicate a desire for peace. This must stop,” Kelley said.
Russia has conducted its most extensive missile and drone strikes of the full-scale war from 23 to 25 May.
He warned that stepping back from talks would not mean abandoning allies but would “recognize Russia’s refusal to cooperate with us to achieve the desired outcome.”
“There is no military solution to this conflict. The deal now on offer is the best possible outcome for Russia. President Putin should take this deal,” Kelley said.
He added that the US is considering additional sanctions on Russia.
UN Undersecretary General Rosemary DiCarlo said hope in the negotiations is “just barely” alive. The massive weekend attacks show how quickly the war can escalate, she warned. “The people of Ukraine, especially, cannot wait” for peace efforts to resume.
Meanwhile, disputes emerged over proposed talks in Istanbul on 2 June. The Kremlin said it was awaiting Ukraine’s response to its proposal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s adviser said Ukraine is ready to participate but wants to see Russia’s proposals first.
Peskov called that demand “nonconstructive.”
Russia’s previous proposals demanded Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions, recognize Crimea and four occupied Ukrainian oblasts (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia) as Russian territory, prohibit foreign troop deployments on Ukrainian soil. The US and Ukraine demand Russia to cease hostilities, withdraw from occupied territories, and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty without recognizing Russian claims.
Zelenskyy accused Russia of “yet another deception” for failing to provide its peace proposal. “Even the so-called ‘memorandum’ they promised and seemingly prepared for more than a week has still not been seen by anyone,” he said in his video address.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on 28 May that Russia’s delegation “is ready to present a memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation” during the 2 June Istanbul talks.
President Trump warned on 29 May he would determine within “about two weeks” whether Putin is serious about peace. “We’re going to find out whether or not he’s tapping us along or not, and if he is, we’ll respond a little bit differently,” Trump told reporters.
The warnings came as the Security Council met to discuss Ukraine following record Russian attacks over the weekend.