Lavrov’s statement on guarantees for Ukraine effectively derailed Russia-US talks
Photo: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (Getty Images)
A statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that Russia, China, and the United States could serve as security guarantors for Ukraine has effectively derailed Moscow’s negotiations with Washington, Bloomberg reports.
Several senior European officials and diplomats told the agency they view Lavrov’s comments as an attempt to stall the process. They also expressed doubt that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is ready to conclude a peace deal.
According to one European official, Lavrov’s refusal to agree to security guarantees for Ukraine has essentially collapsed Russia’s talks with the United States.
The Kremlin may now try to persuade the White House to drop demands for security guarantees for Ukraine and downgrade a potential Putin-Zelenskyy meeting to a lower-level officials’ encounter in order to avoid new US sanctions.
Lavrov’s statement
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Ukraine’s security guarantees should be ensured "on an equal basis" by countries such as China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
However, he stressed that without Russia’s participation, this would be "a road to nowhere."
"I am confident that in the West, especially in the United States, they perfectly understand that seriously discussing security issues without Russia is utopia, a road to nowhere," Lavrov said.
