Moscow is finalizing its draft peace proposal, Russia’s top diplomat has said while accusing the EU of seeking to disrupt the peace process
Russian Foreign Minister covered a broad range of topics related to the Ukraine conflict settlement as well as Moscow’s view on the roles the US and the EU play in this process during several events on Friday.
Addressing an international conference in Moscow and talking to journalists during a Q&A session later, the top diplomat spoke about the future of Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky’s and the Kiev “regime,” as well as Washington’s role in mediating the conflict and the responsibility the EU bears for protracting the hostilities.
Here are the key takeaways from his statements.
Ukraine peace process
Lavrov emphasized that Russia remains open to renewed negotiations, provided they focus on the root causes of the conflict and acknowledge the current realities on the ground.
“actively working” on a memorandum outlining steps toward a potential peace agreement and plans to deliver it to the Ukrainian side.
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“not very realistic” the possibility of holding the talks in the Vatican, as had been proposed by Pope Leo XIV. It would be “inelegant” for two Orthodox Christian countries to mediate their conflict in the capital of the Catholic faith, Lavrov said.
Zelensky’s status
Vladimir Zelensky’s legitimacy will be of key importance when it comes to signing a peace agreement with Ukraine, Lavrov stressed. If any future deal is signed by someone whose “legitimacy no longer convinces anyone,” successors may question the reached agreements, he cautioned.
Future of Kiev regime
Lavrov described the current Ukrainian government as a “junta” and condemned its policies targeting the Russian-speaking population. Leaving millions in Ukraine under the rule of a regime that has banned their native language would be “a major crime,” he said.
“junta” expects that “somehow an agreement will be reached to end the hostilities, and what remains of Ukraine will live according to the laws that they adopted, this is an illusion,” the minister added. “This cannot be allowed under any circumstances,” he stressed.
Russia-US relations
Lavrov welcomed US President Donald Trump’s efforts to mediate peace in the Ukraine conflict.
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“publicly said that drawing Ukraine into NATO was a grave mistake” and blamed the administration of his predecessor, Joe Biden for the escalation of the conflict.
Security crisis in Europe
The European continent is facing a “deep security crisis” that the EU leaders seek to exploit to facilitate its militarization, the foreign minister warned. According to Lavrov, the “Euro-Atlantic security structures have fallen short” of providing real security for the continent.
“fence itself off from NATO” but seeks instead an inseparable security structure for “all the nations of Eurasia, including its Western part.”
“harbors plans of subduing … all of the Eurasian continent up to the far east,” the minister warned.
EU ‘responsibility’ for continued bloodshed
The EU leaders are “fueling” the Ukraine conflict and encouraging Zelensky and his “regime” to continue the hostilities against Russia, Lavrov told journalists during the Q&A session. Calls by French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Russia to agree to an “unconditional ceasefire” are a disguise for their plans to continue pumping the Kiev “regime” with arms, the foreign minister has stated.
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