Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow's future negotiating position on the settlement in Ukraine will be shaped after President Vladimir Putin receives reports from meeting participants and the US side. According to the minister, US President Donald Trump's special representatives, who are reportedly set to arrive in Moscow to brief the Russian leader, could influence the Kremlin's stance following the conclusion of peace talks in Abu Dhabi. Lavrov made these remarks citing Vesti, RBC-Ukraine reports.
Who will determine Moscow's further course
Commenting on the process, Lavrov referred to the return to Russia of the delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky and the announced trip of US negotiators to Moscow. "Let's see what Medinsky and his delegation report upon their return... I proceed from the fact that a trip by American negotiators to Moscow has indeed been announced to brief President Putin. He also regularly receives such reports from Medinsky's delegations. And based on what he hears from the Americans, he will determine our further lines," the minister stated. Thus, according to him, the final line will be built taking into account the information the Russian leader receives from both sides.
Assessment of the Ukrainian side and trilateral format
Lavrov also commented on the behavior of the Ukrainian side. He stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his words, "is playing some games of his own," while positively assessing the readiness of the Ukrainian delegation for substantive work during the talks in Abu Dhabi. Separately, the minister supported the trilateral negotiation format involving Ukraine, the US, and Russia, calling it "the most justified."
Course toward achieving the goals of the "special military operation"
At the same time, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry assured that the Kremlin does not intend to back down from its previously charted course. According to him, Russia will continue to act to "achieve the goals of the special military operation," which, he emphasized, were formulated by the president in June 2024 and "have never changed since then." Lavrov added that Russia has its own plan for a new "security architecture" in Eurasia.
Context: contacts with Europe
Earlier, according to Russian media, the Kremlin rejected Europe's proposals for a ceasefire in Ukraine. In another speech, Lavrov revealed details of Putin's telephone conversation with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, which he said took place at the initiative of the Europeans themselves. The minister stated that Europe is not changing its approach to the conflict, continuing to condemn Russia while "ignoring how it all started," and regarded the contacts as a desire by Europeans to "squeeze into the negotiation process."
