Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed his willingness to meet U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio but emphasized that Russia would not change its main conditions for ending the Ukraine war. U. S. President Donald Trump’s attempts to negotiate peace have been unsuccessful, leading to the cancellation of a planned summit with President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin dismissed rumors that Lavrov had lost favor with Putin following the failed summit.
Lavrov highlighted the importance of communication between U. S. and Russian officials to discuss Ukraine and bilateral relations, stating they could meet in person when needed. Nearly four years into the conflict, Russian forces control about 19% of Ukraine, which Moscow claims is now part of Russia, a claim that Ukraine and Western nations refuse to accept.
At a previous summit, Putin outlined core demands for Kyiv, which include rejecting NATO membership and withdrawing troops from four provinces claimed by Russia: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Currently, Russia controls Crimea and significant portions of other territories.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has indicated he cannot legally cede any territory, fearing that any retreat would expose Ukraine to further Russian aggression. Lavrov mentioned awaiting U. S. confirmation on the validity of previous agreements made in Anchorage. He also asserted that Russia’s territorial integrity is not questioned by the U. S. and reminded that Novorossiya historically refers to areas of southeastern Ukraine under Russian influence.
Regarding European plans to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, Lavrov stated there is no legal basis for this and warned of retaliatory measures. He noted that the U. S. is reviewing the proposal to extend limitations of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty beyond its expiration in February 2026.
With information from Reuters
