Official statements from involved governments or credible international news outlets reporting on the commencement of talks

Lavrov Rejects Ukraine Ceasefire, Accuses West of Arming Kyiv, Open to Talks with Trump

Dec 26, 2024, 08:35 AM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia remains open to negotiations on the Ukraine issue but emphasizes the need for serious, concrete proposals. Lavrov clarified that President Putin’s peace proposals are not preliminary conditions for dialogue. He dismissed the notion of an easy resolution to the Ukraine crisis, expressing that a truce would be a "path to nowhere" that allows Kyiv to regroup and rearm. Lavrov accused the West of using truces to "buy time" to arm Ukraine and noted that the Minsk agreements, which were a UN Security Council decision, were "trampled on" with U.S. backing. He stressed that future agreements must include mechanisms to prevent their violation and address the root causes of the conflict. Lavrov also mentioned that Moscow is ready to consult with the incoming Trump administration on Ukraine, hoping the White House will understand the underlying causes of the conflict. However, he added that Russia has no illusions that Trump’s return to power will automatically lead to negotiations.