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Russia’s Sergei Lavrov sets condition for the end of war in Ukraine: ‘Will stop military action only when …’
As Russia and the US kickstart peace talks to end the Ukraine war, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has mentioned the one condition that will prompt the Kremlin to stop the fighting in Ukraine. Lavrov said the war will end when the negotiations “yield a firm sustainable result” acceptable to Russia.
Lavrov made the statement during his visit to Turkey, where he praised US President Donald Trump and his decision to resume talks with Russia. He was hosted by his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan who said Ankara was willing to host future peace talks.
“Russian President Vladimir Putin has clearly stated that Russia was ready to negotiate with Ukraine, with Europe, with any representatives who would like to help achieve peace in a spirit of goodwill. But we will stop the fighting only when these negotiations yield a firm, sustainable result that is acceptable to the Russian Federation. Of course, the realities on the ground must be taken into account,” Lavrov told reporters.
Lavrov also said the US position on Ukraine stood out but hit out at the statements made by the European politicians. “It does not call for just immediately ‘making peace’, leaving the line of contact and then thinking about what to do – we have always stressed that this option will not suit us,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff, a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump, has said that the conflict was “provoked” and it is wrong to solely blame Russia.
On whether Washington was choosing the right side by holding talks with Moscow instead of continuing to funnel aid to Kyiv, Witkoff said “Moscow had to respond to a security threat created by the West’s promises to accept Ukraine into NATO.”
“The situation is not black-and-white, with Russians being “the bad guys,” Witkoff told CNN’s Jake Tapper.
THE WEEK