At the International Collective Security Forum in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Russia has prepared its own position paper reflecting its vision for a new security architecture in Eurasia. According to him, the future system must take into account the interests of all parties and not jeopardize the security of any participant. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Russian news service Interfax.
“Fair Balance of Interests” and Hope for Dialogue with Washington
Lavrov expressed hope that the administration of US President Donald Trump will continue dialogue with Russia on shaping a new regional security system. The goal of such negotiations, in his phrasing, is to find a “fair balance of interests” where no party's security is threatened. At the same time, the Russian Foreign Minister admitted that the specific mechanism for achieving this balance has not yet been determined: “How to do this, I don't know. That remains to be seen. We have our own position paper,” he said.
Regional Structures: CSTO, CIS, and SCO
Commenting on the institutional framework, Lavrov mentioned the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which, according to him, interacts with other regional structures. Among them, he named the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The Russian Foreign Minister did not disclose the specific provisions of the Russian document or the list of proposed changes to the Eurasian security system.
Context: Trilateral Talks in Abu Dhabi
The statements came against the backdrop of preparations for trilateral talks between Russia, the US, and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, which, according to Russian sources, are scheduled for November 10–11. According to Lavrov, the first item on their agenda will be security issues concerning Russia, Ukraine, and the region as a whole. Thus, the topic of the new security architecture is becoming one of the key elements in the discussion on ending the war in Ukraine.
Position of Kyiv and Europe: First, Stop the War
In Kyiv and European capitals, Moscow's approach is viewed differently. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that agreements between Russia and European countries without ending the war could pose a threat, and stressed that Ukraine will not agree to decisions made without its participation and does not want a repetition of the Yalta agreements. European countries, in turn, insist that Russia must first stop the war against Ukraine, and only then can its claims regarding continental security be discussed.
