Lithuanian President Nauseda says Russia will delay serious peace talks until spring 2027

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said Russia would delay serious negotiations with Ukraine until at least spring 2027 and continue striking Ukrainian cities throughout the winter. He made the remarks ahead of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi.

In an interview with German newspaper WELT, also published by Britain's The Telegraph, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said the Russian leadership currently saw no need to enter negotiations with Ukraine. Nausėda said, "Not before spring 2027, at least."

Nausėda said Moscow would maintain pressure on Kyiv throughout the winter by striking Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles. "The Russians will only pretend to negotiate. I do not trust them," he said. Nausėda said Russia would put forward demands that Ukraine could not accept from the outset to ensure the talks failed.

"If Ukraine gets through this winter, which I believe it will, the chances of serious talks in 2027 will increase. I do not expect them earlier," Nausėda said, calling for continued military aid to Ukraine, particularly air defense systems, and support for rebuilding its energy infrastructure.

The remarks came as new diplomatic initiatives were being considered. Steve Witkoff, the U.S. president's special envoy, announced that Ukrainian, Russian and U.S. delegations would meet in Abu Dhabi next week. It would be the first trilateral meeting since February. U.S. President Trump's wife, Melania Trump, also brought together Russian and Ukrainian representatives at the White House on Thursday, including Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev.

Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff (September 2026)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned that Europe could remain ineffective in the negotiations unless it ended competing diplomatic initiatives and appointed a single representative to speak on its behalf.

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