Lavrov Rejects Western Security Plans for Ukraine, Criticizes Exclusion of Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has voiced strong disapproval of Western leaders' efforts to address security concerns related to Ukraine without Moscow's participation. He warned Ukraine's allies about their attempts to establish guarantees for Kyiv's future protection.

Lavrov specifically criticized the involvement of European leaders who met with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. He accused these leaders of escalating the situation through what he described as "clumsy and unethical attempts" to influence Mr. Trump's stance on Ukraine.

Lavrov emphasized that Russia would not accept the resolution of security issues without its involvement. He stated that Moscow favored "truly reliable" guarantees for Ukraine, potentially modeled on a draft accord discussed in Istanbul in 2022, early in the war. This draft proposed security guarantees from a group of countries, including the permanent members of the UN Security Council. However, Kyiv rejected this proposal, citing Moscow's potential veto power over any military response.

Meanwhile, NATO military leaders held a video conference to discuss the White House talks, with the focus remaining on achieving a just and lasting peace. Ukrainian officials are actively working on the military aspects of Western countries guaranteeing Ukraine's security. They are also developing a plan in case Russia continues to prolong the war and disrupt agreements.

Adding to the tensions, Poland accused Russia of provocation as efforts to end the war intensified. Polish officials determined that an object that crashed in eastern Poland was likely a Russian drone, leading to accusations of Russian provocation.