Lavrov rules out near-term peace in Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the peace negotiation process in Ukraine is still far from completion.
In an interview with Russian TV channels, he says:
“Negotiations continue, the second round took place in Abu Dhabi, but there is still a long way to go.”
Lavrov also attempted to shift some responsibility for the lack of a peace agreement onto the United States, suggesting that there is a “misperception” about what is happening. He claimed that some believe former US President Donald Trump “put Europeans and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in their place” by demanding compliance with potential ceasefire terms.
“All of this is fine if we want peace in Ukraine, but we are not there yet,” Lavrov emphasized.
These statements indicate that Kremlin officials do not see a realistic chance for a peace deal in the near future, citing large gaps in the negotiations.
Previously, President Zelensky expressed hope that Ukraine could end the war this year, stressing the importance of support from the US and Europe and calling for modern air defense systems to protect critical energy infrastructure.
