After a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that any ceasefire on the Russia-Ukraine front that ignores the so-called "root causes" of the conflict is not in Russia's interest. Lavrov’s position contrasts with US President Donald Trump’s proposal to freeze the situation along the front lines and deescalate.
Both US and Russian officials have confirmed that no date for a new meeting has been set. While the Financial Times reported a possible meeting on October 30 between the US Secretary of State and Lavrov, Russian officials denied this information.
Analysts believe the lack of a real platform for agreements is due to disagreements over Ukraine's future and the terms for a ceasefire. Lavrov reiterated that Russia would not agree to any terms disregarding its demands. Meanwhile, US military assistance to Ukraine has dwindled, which experts say strengthens Moscow's position.
Russian President Putin, according to Lavrov, seeks to complete the so-called "special operation" by fulfilling all stated objectives. Given Moscow’s tough stance, experts do not foresee significant progress in negotiations in the near future. Only stronger sanctions and military aid are seen as potential factors for change.
