Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, stated at the UN Security Council meeting on May 19, 2026, that the negotiation process on Ukraine is at an impasse, and Moscow sees no signs from Kyiv of a willingness to make substantive progress toward resolving the conflict. He stated that Russia will pursue the goals of the special military operation until the Kyiv regime meets a number of conditions, including the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from Russian regions.

Nebenzya sharply criticized Ukraine's Western allies. He stated that talk of former Estonian President Kersti Kallai becoming a mediator in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine "can only be described as a mockery." The diplomat also described the United Nations as "in a completely helpless state," having adopted a biased anti-Russian stance.