MOSCOW/BRUSSELS – Russia will not accept unfavorable terms for a peace treaty over Ukraine, though it does not rule out the possibility of compromise, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the State Duma on Wednesday.
“We will not sign a peace treaty that is detrimental to our interests. President Vladimir Putin has stated this on multiple occasions. We are ready for compromise,” he noted.
He stressed that a sustainable settlement of the crisis in Ukraine is impossible without addressing its root causes, and that this approach had also been recognized by US President Donald Trump and his administration.
“On this basis, during the meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States in Alaska in August 2025, understandings were reached on how to ensure a sustainable, long-term settlement of the Ukrainian issue. These understandings remain on the table,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov further emphasized that once a peace settlement is reached, Moscow will not tolerate any threats to Russia’s security, the Russian people, or Russian culture.
European to aid Ukraine with 90b-euro loan
The European Parliament on Wednesday overwhelmingly backed a financial aid package for Ukraine. A total of 90 billion euros ($107 billion) in loans will fund Ukraine’s budget.
The legislation was adopted under an urgent procedure, with Parliament backing the loan proposal by 458 votes to 140, with 44 abstentions.
The package would earmark 60 billion euros to strengthen Ukraine’s defense and support procurement of military equipment, while the remaining 30 billion euros would be delivered as macro-financial assistance or budget support through the European Union (EU)’s Ukraine Facility.
The loan is aimed at covering two-thirds of Ukraine’s financial needs for 2026 and 2027, according to media reports.
The Council of the EU must still formally adopt the package before the European Commission can disburse a first payment early in the second quarter of 2026.
Russia sets key conditions for foreign firms’ return
Foreign companies seeking to return to the Russian market must not have been involved in financing Ukraine’s armed forces or other Ukrainian formations and must have exited Russia in a responsible manner, a senior finance official said on Wednesday.
Speaking to RIA Novosti, Deputy Finance Minister Alexey Moiseev said that the primary requirement for returning companies is compliance with principles outlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He said that foreign firms should also have left Russia in a “civilized” way, without abandoning their assets. “There are several obvious and understandable criteria that must be met,” he said.
Moiseev noted that a regulatory framework for the return of foreign businesses is already in place and that Putin has instructed authorities to simplify procedures for companies that acted in good faith.
Russian authorities have repeatedly stressed that no special privileges or preferences will be granted to Western companies seeking to re-enter the market, and that they must compete on equal terms.