Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has confirmed that Moscow will not accept the security guarantees model for Ukraine currently advocated by Western countries. Lavrov suggested returning to the model discussed during negotiations in Istanbul in 2022. According to Lavrov, this proposal was initiated by the Ukrainian delegation, with permanent members of the UN Security Council, and possibly countries like Germany or Turkey, acting as security guarantors for Ukraine.
Lavrov particularly emphasized that Russia, which continues its war against Ukraine, will not agree to any security guarantees without its involvement. Potential guarantors may also include China, which supports Russia. The Kremlin's position on terms for ending the war has changed little.
Meanwhile, the US president is discussing the potential for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and the possibility of security guarantees back by NATO's Article 5, without granting Ukraine membership in the Alliance. NATO and US officials are discussing details of such models, but Moscow has stated its categorical disagreement with Western initiatives, especially the deployment of NATO forces in Ukraine.
According to analyst Vitalii Portnikov, the continuation of hostilities is linked to Russia's unwillingness to shift its position, and meetings with Western leaders only reinforce its pursuit of political aims in the conflict. Lavrov's visit to Alaska wearing a USSR-themed shirt, Portnikov notes, is seen as a symbolic statement of Russia's broader ambitions regarding Ukraine and the region.
In conclusion, Russia insists on its own approach to security guarantees for Ukraine, pushing for a model that includes itself and its allies and rejecting Western initiatives.
