Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov considered that there is a long way to go before peace talks in Ukraine, according to what the Russian Information Agency reported on Tuesday. A high-level Russian diplomatic source confirmed that any agreement to settle the conflict must take into account providing security guarantees to Moscow as well, while security guarantees to Ukraine were one of the focal points in the talks that brought together the two parties to the conflict in the Emirates.
Published on: 02/10/2026 - 09:07
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that there is no reason to be enthusiastic about the pressure exerted by US President Donald Trump on Europe and Ukraine, considering that there is still a long way to go before negotiations on peace in Ukraine, according to what the Russian Information Agency reported on Tuesday.
Read also: Zelensky announces that the United States wants Ukraine and Russia to end the war before the summer
Security guarantees for Russia
A high-ranking Russian diplomatic source confirmed that any agreement to settle the conflict that has been ongoing for nearly four years between Russia and Ukraine must take into account providing security guarantees to Russia, according to what Reuters reported, citing Russian media.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told the Izvestia newspaper, "We realize that a peace settlement in Ukraine must take into account Ukraine's security interests, but the main factor, of course, is Russia's security interests."
He went on to say, "If you look carefully and study the statements made by European Union leaders, you will not find anyone talking about security guarantees for Russia. This is an essential element of the peace agreement. Without it, an agreement cannot be reached."
Security guarantees for Ukraine
Negotiators from Russia and Ukraine held two rounds of talks in the UAE in the past few weeks with representatives from the United States. No peace agreement was reached, but the two sides agreed to the first exchange of prisoners of war in five months at the last meeting last week.
Security guarantees for Ukraine were one of the focal points of the discussions, along with the extent of Russia's control over Ukrainian territory and a recovery plan for Ukraine after the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier Monday that documents related to Ukraine's security guarantees are ready. The Izvestia newspaper said that Grushko revealed some of what these guarantees might include.
These elements included demands made by Moscow for some time, including banning Ukraine from joining NATO, rejecting any deployment of forces from NATO countries in Ukraine as part of the settlement, and putting an end to what he described as the use of Ukrainian territory to threaten Russia.
In recent talks, the two parties agreed to attend a next round of discussions, but no date has been set for it. Zelensky said that the next meeting will be held in the United States.
France 24/Reuters
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