Russia has emphasized that discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine without its participation are futile, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stating that such talks would be a “road to nowhere”.
This stance comes after European leaders met with US President Donald Trump to discuss security guarantees for Kyiv.
“We cannot agree with the fact that now it is proposed to resolve questions of security, collective security, without the Russian Federation. This will not work,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov’s comments underscore Russia’s insistence on being a key player in any potential settlement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to Lavrov, any summit between the two leaders “must be prepared in the most meticulous way” to avoid exacerbating the conflict.
He also criticized European leaders for their “clumsy attempts” to sway Trump’s position on Ukraine, stating that “we have only seen aggressive escalation of the situation and rather clumsy attempts to change the position of the US president”.
Furthermore, Lavrov noted that no constructive ideas were presented by European leaders during their recent meeting with Trump.
Meanwhile, NATO’s Military Committee is set to discuss potential security guarantees for Ukraine, with 32 defense chiefs from across the alliance participating in a video conference.
US General Alexus Grynkewich, who oversees NATO’s operations in Europe, will also join the talks. The role of the US in providing security guarantees remains unclear, with Trump ruling out sending US troops to defend Ukraine against Russia.
Lavrov, however, suggested that the US, China, the UK, and France could provide equal security guarantees for Ukraine, stressing that Moscow’s participation is essential.
The proposed meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy aims to find a settlement to the conflict, which has been ongoing for over three years.
Zelenskyy has been actively seeking a meeting with Putin without preconditions, hoping it could bring the war to an end.
Lavrov emphasized that any agreement should be based on the framework discussed during the 2022 Istanbul negotiations, which involved working out security guarantees with all permanent members of the UN Security Council.
European leaders are working to finalize a package of security guarantees for Ukraine, with French President Emmanuel Macron suggesting that a deal might be reached soon.
The guarantees would rely on a strong Ukrainian army backed by commitments from a coalition of willing countries, including over 30 nations. However, Lavrov criticized Macron’s approach, describing it as “adventurous and confrontational”.