Lavrov: Russia Will Not Halt Combat Operations Against Ukraine During Negotiations

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow has no intention of pausing combat operations against Ukraine, even if a peace process were to begin. According to him, Russia remains ready for dialogue, however, the special military operation will continue during the period of negotiations. The statement was made in response to journalists' questions against the backdrop of ongoing diplomatic signals from Kyiv and attempts to agree on the format of a personal meeting between the leaders of the two countries.

Moscow's Position on Negotiations

"We remain ready for negotiations, but we will not halt the special military operation for the period of negotiations," Lavrov told journalists, reportedly at the BRICS summit in New Delhi. Thus, the official Kremlin and the Russian Foreign Ministry are cementing the position that the military and diplomatic tracks are developing in parallel: readiness to talk does not mean an automatic ceasefire or a freeze of combat operations. This wording underscores that, in Moscow's assessment, the negotiation process should not be accompanied by unilateral concessions on the battlefield.

"Gesture of Goodwill" and Zelensky's Invitation

Separately, Lavrov commented on Volodymyr Zelensky's invitation to come to Moscow, calling it a "huge gesture of goodwill" on the part of Russia. This statement is important because Moscow publicly records Kyiv's initiative as a step toward contact, while simultaneously maintaining a hardline rhetoric regarding the conditions and dynamics of combat operations. The totality of these signals indicates that the diplomatic channel is formally open, but it is tied to the rigid demands of the Russian side.

Context of the G20 Summit and a Personal Meeting of the Leaders

Earlier, Zelensky effectively proposed that the head of the Russian state hold a personal meeting within the framework of the "Group of Twenty" summit, which, according to available data, is scheduled for December 2026. At the same time, according to Ushakov, the possibility of Putin's trip to the G20 summit in Miami had not even been discussed yet. This means that, despite the public invitations, the practical logistics and the political decision on a top-level meeting have not yet been formed, and the statements of the parties remain at the level of diplomatic signaling.

Contradictory Data

In publications by different media outlets, the context of Lavrov's statement is presented with discrepancies. In the main version, the minister's words are tied to the BRICS summit in New Delhi, while the initiative for a personal meeting of the leaders is discussed in the context of the G20 summit in Miami (December 2026) — that is, the talk is of two different venues and time frames, which may create confusion in interpretation. Moreover, in a number of materials the emphasis is placed on the fact that the implementation of the agreements referred to in the diplomatic track (including in connection with Anchorage) would allow stopping the conflict, whereas in Lavrov's direct statement the refusal to pause combat operations is emphasized. Thus, the same position is conveyed through different formulations: from "balance of interests" to "readiness for negotiations without halting the operation," and it is important for the reader to distinguish the direct quote from its expansive interpretations in the media.

Assessments and Possible Consequences

The position voiced by Lavrov effectively closes off the scenario of an automatic ceasefire in exchange for opening negotiations and shifts the focus to the conditions that Moscow considers acceptable. For Kyiv, this means that diplomatic signals (including the invitation to Moscow and the proposal for a meeting at the G20) do not guarantee de-escalation, and for international mediators — that agreeing even on the format of a personal meeting of the leaders remains an open question. The further dynamics will depend on whether the parties can move from rhetoric to specific parameters of negotiations and on the decision regarding Putin's participation in the G20 summit in Miami.