Lavrov on Ukraine talks Past deals and mistrust

Sep 26

Asked how trust and a path out of the Ukraine conflict can be rebuilt, Lavrov says existing agreements must be implemented. He recounts the February 2014 political settlement, including an Obama–Putin call, then alleges that its opponents immediately seized power with Western approval. He presents Ukraine's language policies and Crimea and Donbas as grievances. He says the Minsk agreements were sabotaged and interprets later European leaders' remarks as admissions of deception. He recounts the December 2019 Normandy summit and accuses Zelensky of refusing the agreed Donbas special-status approach. He says Russia accepted Ukrainian principles presented in Istanbul in early April 2022 and alleges that Boris Johnson helped prevent their implementation. He claims Russia accepted principles agreed with Trump in Anchorage, while Ukraine and its European supporters obstructed them. Finally, he says repeated talks in Istanbul and Abu Dhabi, including humanitarian discussions, were suspended through no fault of Russia. His assertions about coups, motives, sabotage and agreed peace terms remain attributed; he does not announce a new settlement or negotiating round.

At his September 26 UN press conference, Lavrov argues that confidence in Ukraine negotiations depends on implementing agreements. He recounts the 2014 settlement, Minsk, the 2019 Normandy summit and the 2022 Istanbul principles, accusing Ukraine and European governments of obstructing them. He says Russia accepted the U.S.-proposed Anchorage principles and remains prepared to return to those understandings, while criticizing Europe's negotiating role. His allegations about sabotage, motives and agreed terms remain attributed. Vremya's September 26 account relays the readiness statement and changing U.S. mediation language. No new accepted settlement or negotiating schedule is disclosed.