Lavrov: Russia ready for peace

At a roundtable on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed his country's position on key issues. He emphasized that Ukraine's military losses have exceeded one million people, and Russia has transferred no fewer than 11 thousand bodies of deceased soldiers, receiving only 201 in return. Lavrov noted that prolonging the conflict has become a political and physical test for Zelenskyy, while the West seeks to increase tensions by highlighting a military threat from the Russian Federation. He stated that European peacekeepers in Ukraine would quickly become legitimate military targets for Russia, and that Russia is already prepared for any decision Europe might make. The main goal in current negotiations between Russia and the United States is finding a long-term settlement. Lavrov noted that meetings with the U.S. president and the Finnish president at the recent summit in Alaska helped eliminate misunderstandings. He stressed that Russia observes a large number of speculations regarding Ukraine, aimed at prolonging the conflict, and called for respecting Trump's desire for a settlement. Lavrov stated that Russia will achieve its goals in Ukraine regardless of predictions about the conflict's end, while the West attempts to divert attention from the Palestinian issue.

Context

The roundtable took place in Moscow and served as a platform to discuss current issues concerning the conflict in Ukraine and to coordinate Russia's and the United States' positions on a long-term resolution to the confrontation.