Russia will not agree to security guarantees for Ukraine that are developed without Moscow's participation, stated Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. «We cannot agree that security issues are now proposed to be resolved without the Russian Federation. This will not work. (...) I am sure that in the West, primarily in the USA, they understand that seriously discussing security issues without the participation of the Russian Federation is a utopia, a road to nowhere,» Lavrov stated.
As a «good example,» he cited the 2022 proposal, in which Russia and China were among the security guarantors. This document, published last year by The New York Times, suggested that Moscow would have the right to veto assistance to Kyiv from the guarantors.
Lavrov also reiterated the thesis of Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov on raising the level of delegations in the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, without specifying whether Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky.
Security guarantees for Ukraine were discussed during the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska, and then during Trump's summit with Vladimir Zelensky and European leaders. Trump initially stated that Putin agreed on the need to provide security guarantees to Ukraine. At the same time, he noted that Europe would take on most of the burden of ensuring security, and Washington intends to «help them.» Later, Trump clarified that there would be no American soldiers in Ukraine.
Ten European countries are ready to send troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.