Sergei Lavrov argues that Russia is not looking for a temporary agreement and reiterates that Moscow will not accept an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine that does not result in Kiev’s total capitulation
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated this Tuesday that Moscow will not accept an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine that does not result in Kiev’s total capitulation. Lavrov defended that Russia seeks a “stable, long-term peace” and not a temporary agreement that, according to him, “leads nowhere”, a position that, he stressed, has not changed since the Alaska summit.
The Russian diplomat, who on the same day, again blamed NATO’s expansion to the east and the alleged discrimination against Russians in Ukraine as “main causes” of the conflict. In the analysis of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), an American think tank, these statements reinforce the Kremlin’s determination to achieve its original war objectives – namely Ukrainian neutrality, the replacement of Volodymyr Zelensky’s government with a pro-Russian executive and the reversal of NATO’s open door policy.
Lavrov also responded to the demands of US President Donald Trump, who has advocated an immediate end to the war, noting that these demands are incompatible with Russia’s strategic objectives. “If we simply stop, it will mean forgetting the original causes of the conflict”, stressed Sergei Lavrov.
In contrast, Ukraine and European allies have expressed support for Donald Trump’s proposal for an immediate ceasefire. In a joint statement signed on Tuesday, Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky (Ukraine), Emmanuel Macron (France) and Alexander Stubb (Finland), Prime Ministers Keir Starmer (United Kingdom), Friederich Merz (Germany), Giorgia Meloni (Italy), Donald Tusk (Poland), Jonas Støre (Norway), Mette Frederiksen (Denmark) and Pedro Sánchez (Spain), European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed their agreement to use the current front line as a “starting point” for peace negotiations.
European leaders also stressed that Ukraine is “the only party serious about peace” and stated that Kiev must be “in the strongest possible position before, during and after any ceasefire”. They also reiterated their commitment to using frozen Russian assets to support the country’s reconstruction and increase pressure on Russia’s economy and defense sector.
According to the ISW analysis, Russia’s economic sanctions and financial isolation are important, but insufficient to force Moscow to negotiate. The report highlights that the end of the conflict also depends on continued robust and sustained military support for Ukraine from its allies.
