Russia Signals Readiness to Address Ukraine Crisis Root Causes

Russia warned the European Union against freezing its assets, calling such moves "outright theft" and promising appropriate retaliation. The warning comes as the EU pushes to use around 140 billion euros in frozen Russian sovereign assets to support Ukraine, while Moscow signals openness to negotiations that address what it calls the root causes of the conflict.

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying Moscow is ready to work on addressing the underlying causes of the Ukrainian crisis through any future negotiation process. But the ministry emphasized that Russia views tackling the conflict's roots as essential for real progress.

The statement noted that "future developments will show how ready Ukraine's new negotiating delegation is to engage in substantive practical talks." This suggests Russia sees potential for diplomatic movement, though it maintains firm positions on key issues.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow last Tuesday. Putin described the meeting as "extremely useful and necessary" but said it's too early to assess the results. He revealed that the American proposal was based on understandings reached with President Donald Trump during their Alaska summit on August 15.

Putin said he discussed every point of the American offer during the lengthy meeting, noting there were some aspects Russia didn't agree with. He stressed that Russia will control the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine "by military means, or by any other means."

The EU's push to use frozen Russian assets faces internal resistance. Belgium strongly opposes the measure over fears of legal consequences. The European Commission wants member states to approve using the sovereign assets as what they call a "special compensatory loan" for Ukraine.

Russia has repeatedly called the asset freezes theft, arguing the EU targets not just individual Russians' money but sovereign assets as well. This creates a significant legal and diplomatic precedent that could affect international financial systems.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha told the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe that "Ukraine wants real peace, not appeasement of Russia." This statement reflects Ukraine's position that any settlement must address its core security concerns rather than simply accommodate Russian demands.

The diplomatic activity suggests both sides are exploring possibilities for talks, but major gaps remain. Russia insists on addressing what it sees as the conflict's root causes, while Ukraine demands genuine peace rather than concessions that might only pause hostilities.