Russia Won't End Ukraine War Until NATO 'Pulls Out' of Baltics: Moscow

 

Top Russian Official Says Ukraine War Won’t End Until NATO Withdraws from the Baltics

A top Russian diplomat has warned that the war in Ukraine will not conclude unless NATO pulls its troops out of the Baltic region. Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister in charge of U.S. relations, arms control, and nonproliferation, made the comments in an interview with the state-run news agency Tass.

Ryabkov’s remarks suggest a notable shift in Moscow’s position. He argued that the roots of the conflict extend beyond Ukraine itself, pointing to NATO’s eastward expansion as a fundamental cause. According to him, withdrawing NATO forces from the Baltic states would be a necessary step toward ending the war.

NATO has maintained a strong military presence in the region—stationing multinational battalions in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and brigades in Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Hungary. The alliance significantly increased its presence after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A NATO update released on June 6 stated that the deployment of eight battle groups reflects "the strength of the trans-Atlantic bond and the Alliance's solidarity, determination, and ability to respond to any aggression."

Since the war began, formerly neutral countries Sweden and Finland have also joined NATO, underscoring the alliance’s strategic shift.

Previously, the Kremlin had demanded that Ukraine abandon its NATO aspirations as a condition for peace. However, Ryabkov now indicates that NATO’s full withdrawal from the Baltics may also be a requirement. In a Tass article titled “Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov: It Is Impossible to Resolve the Conflict Until NATO Pulls Out”, he emphasized the importance of addressing what Russia views as the deeper causes of the war.

"The American side must take practical steps to address the root causes of the core security contradictions between us," Ryabkov said. "NATO expansion is front and center. Without solving this acute and fundamental issue, resolving the conflict in the Euro-Atlantic region is simply impossible."

He also blamed the West and previous U.S. administrations for provoking the crisis, characterizing the war as a test of Washington's willingness to reset relations with Moscow.

Last month, Reuters reported that three Russian sources familiar with ongoing negotiations said President Vladimir Putin’s terms for ending the war include a written commitment from Western leaders to halt NATO’s expansion.

A senior Kremlin source told Reuters in a May 28 article that "Putin is ready to make peace, but not at any price," while another said the Russian president has “toughened his position.”

In his interview, Ryabkov also commented on the possibility of improving U.S.-Russia relations, particularly in light of Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House.

"Trump’s declared support for a political and diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis offers a glimmer of hope for normalization," Ryabkov said. "The presidents of Russia and the United States have held four phone conversations, during which Moscow expressed appreciation for Washington's support in resuming direct Russia-Ukraine talks, which Kyiv broke off in 2022."

Ryabkov added that President Putin remains committed to a diplomatic approach, but emphasized that any pause in fighting must not allow Ukraine to regroup its forces.

Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine continue to launch strikes on each other’s territory, and prospects for a ceasefire or peace deal remain remote.