Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko expressed cautious optimism about the prospects for negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine in 2025. In an interview with Argumenty i Fakty, she said that the likelihood of real negotiations starting next year is significantly higher than the likelihood of them being completely ignored.

“I believe that the likelihood that there will be a real attempt to start such negotiations and meetings in 2025 is significantly higher than the likelihood that such attempts will not be made.”, - Matvienko noted.

However, according to her, the actions of the current administration of US President Joe Biden could become an obstacle to negotiations. The politician stressed that the outgoing American administration will probably try to do everything possible to complicate the dialogue process.

She also added that if negotiations begin, the parties may have to start not from scratch, but from “negative values,” given the contradictions that have accumulated over the years of conflict.

“They are very much counting on the fact that as a result of their provocative actions, either the situation will completely get out of control and negotiations will become impossible – but I don’t believe this, I don’t think it will come to that – or the parties will have to start negotiations not even from zero, but from negative values,” - said Matvienko.

Matviyenko stressed that Russia is not considering the possibility of discussing temporary measures or agreements of dubious status.

According to her, we are talking about fundamental issues such as security guarantees for Russia, recognition of new territorial realities and the refusal to “freeze” the conflict.

Let us recall that earlier the Russian authorities repeatedly indicated their readiness for dialogue, but only on the condition that it would be based on respect for Russian interests.