Kremlin manipulates “Istanbul Protocols” to deny Security Guarantees to Ukraine — ISW
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), in its latest report, analysed recent statements by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
According to the report, Russia continues to use rhetoric from 2022 to justify its unwillingness to provide Ukraine with genuine security guarantees and to shift the blame for prolonging the war onto the United States.
In a recent interview, Lavrov claimed that the administration of US President Donald Trump is allegedly conducting negotiations “in bad faith.” Moscow has expressed dissatisfaction with new sanctions imposed on Russia’s energy sector and with the introduction of secondary tariffs on importers of Russian oil — measures taken by Washington in response to the lack of progress in the peace process.
According to American analysts, the Kremlin is attempting to pressure the United States and Europe into accepting a settlement based solely on Russian ultimatums. To this end, Moscow regularly refers to the draft “Istanbul Protocols” of 2022, which envisaged effectively stripping Ukraine of its ability to defend itself.
Russia dropped in the ranking of the main threats to G7 countries. Russia has also claimed the capture of Pokrovsk 2.5 months after a corresponding statement by Putin.
