Russia says Western efforts to discuss Ukraine’s security without its input are doomed to fail.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov insisted Moscow must be included in any meaningful peace negotiations.
Russia has warned that efforts by the United States and European allies to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine without Moscow’s participation are futile, describing them as a “road to nowhere.”
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking on Wednesday, insisted that Russia cannot be sidelined in negotiations aimed at shaping Europe’s security framework. “We cannot agree with proposals to resolve questions of collective security without the Russian Federation. This will not work,” he said.
Lavrov argued that Washington and its allies know well that ignoring Moscow’s role in security talks would be unrealistic. “The West, particularly the United States, understands perfectly well that seriously discussing security issues without the Russian Federation is a utopia; it’s a road to nowhere,” he added.
His remarks came just days after US President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders at the White House, followed by a separate meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump has been pushing for a possible settlement to the conflict, which has now dragged on for more than three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Lavrov cautioned that any direct summit between Putin and Zelenskyy must be “prepared in the most meticulous way” to prevent worsening the crisis. He accused European leaders of making “clumsy attempts” to sway Trump’s position on Ukraine, claiming their meeting yielded “no constructive ideas.”
Meanwhile, NATO military chiefs met on Wednesday to discuss potential security guarantees for Kyiv. A coalition of 30 countries, including European states, Japan, and Australia, is reportedly working on proposals to support a future peace arrangement.
While Trump has ruled out deploying US forces to Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly made clear that it would reject any NATO presence in the country.
Tensions remain high as regional incidents continue to fuel unease. Poland reported on Wednesday that an object resembling a Russian-made Shahed drone had landed in a cornfield in its eastern territory, describing the event as a deliberate “provocation” amid ongoing peace deliberations.
