Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Friday that there is “no meeting planned” between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, despite growing efforts from the United States to organize such a summit.
Speaking during an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker,” Lavrov made it clear that Moscow has not scheduled any talks at the presidential level. His comments came after US President Donald Trump heightened speculation about an imminent summit, claiming that both leaders had signaled their readiness to meet. Trump had made this statement following his reception of President Zelensky and several European allies at the White House earlier in the week.
Lavrov, however, countered these expectations, stressing that while Putin was “ready to meet Zelensky when the agenda would be ready for a summit,” he believed that the necessary groundwork had not been laid. “It is not ready at all,” Lavrov said, underlining Moscow’s position that talks must have concrete terms before taking place.
Earlier in the week, Lavrov criticized the White House meeting between Trump, Zelensky, and European allies, calling it a “clumsy” attempt by Western leaders to sway Washington away from the commitments Trump had already made to Putin during their summit in Alaska last week. The Alaska meeting was seen as a turning point in US-Russian discussions, particularly regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine.
By Friday, Lavrov doubled down on Russia’s stance, effectively dismissing hopes of an immediate resolution through a Putin-Zelensky face-to-face meeting. He cast doubt on Zelensky’s political legitimacy and reinforced Moscow’s sweeping demands concerning Ukraine’s sovereignty. According to Lavrov, Washington has been pushing “several principles” for Ukraine’s future, including guarantees of no NATO membership for Kyiv and negotiations over contested territories. “Zelensky said no to everything,” Lavrov remarked, indicating a total breakdown in common ground.
Lavrov’s statement not only dashed hopes for a near-term diplomatic breakthrough but also highlighted Russia’s hardened negotiating stance, which continues to hinge on demands Ukraine has firmly rejected. His remarks suggest that Moscow intends to prolong the conflict while maintaining its maximalist claims, putting further pressure on Western allies attempting to find a diplomatic path forward.
What you should know
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s veteran foreign minister and one of Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, has long been the Kremlin’s chief diplomatic voice on the Ukraine conflict.
His latest remarks show Moscow’s unwillingness to compromise on NATO or territorial issues, keeping the door shut on direct talks between Putin and Zelensky.
This underscores the deep gulf between Russia and Ukraine, making any US-brokered summit unlikely in the near future.
