The US and the EU cannot disrupt Russia's balance of power.
Russia's permanent representative stated that the statements by the US and EU regarding Ukraine would not upset Russia.
According to RIA Novosti on May 3, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, stated on his Telegram channel that the statements by the US and EU may not play a mediating role in resolving the Ukraine issue and will not be able to destabilize Russia.
“Although the US has stated that it has no intention of continuing to mediate in resolving the dispute between Russia and Ukraine, Washington believes that these two countries must negotiate with each other. Meanwhile, the European Union, through its official representatives, has also stated that it has no intention of becoming a mediator. Well, freedom for freedom. We must hope that neither Washington nor Brussels expect that these statements will be able to throw Russia off balance,” Ulyanov said.
US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said on May 2 that the US would withdraw from peace talks on Ukraine if no progress was made, but "we haven't reached that point yet."
On the same day, Anwar al-Anuni, the official representative of the European External Affairs Service, stated that the European Union has no plans to play a mediating role in the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine if the United States refuses this role. Conversely, Brussels wants to continue providing military support to Kyiv.
Meanwhile, according to a Reuters source, the US has prepared a new package of sanctions against Russia to increase pressure on Russia during negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. According to this information, the new economic sanctions package could include restrictions in the banking and energy sectors.
Reuters added that it remains unclear whether President Donald Trump will agree to impose new restrictions on Russia.
