Russia says 'maximum efforts' underway for Ukraine peace plan

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has announced that Moscow is dedicating significant diplomatic resources to formulate a peace plan for Ukraine, grounding the effort in the high-level understandings reached between the Russian and American presidents last year.

Focus on the 'Anchorage Formula' for Ukraine

In an interview with TASS on Sunday, Ryabkov said contacts have been proceeding "almost uninterruptedly" in recent days. "We are making maximum efforts so that... a settlement scheme is developed that fully corresponds to the basic understandings of the presidents of Russia and the US reached during their meeting in Anchorage," he stated. This refers to the August 2025 summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska, which Moscow frequently cites as the foundation for current negotiations.

A Broader State of 'Stagnation' in Bilateral Ties

While highlighting the continuous diplomatic dialogue, Ryabkov characterized the overall state of US-Russia relations with the word "stagnation." He noted the absence of a US ambassador in Moscow, lack of progress on the return of seized Russian diplomatic properties, and Washington's perceived "complete indifference" to extending the Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty. "We conclude from this that the US, by and large, does not need this treaty," Ryabkov said.

Other Issues: Maduro and a 'Secret Superweapon'

The senior diplomat also commented on other international matters, insisting on the release of abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Regarding President Trump's recent mention of a secret US "superweapon" used in the Caracas raid, Ryabkov suggested it did not concern a weapon of mass destruction, downplaying its strategic significance.