Recently, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made a series of statements concerning the Russia-Ukraine conflict, focusing on the Budapest Memorandum. Lavrov asserted that Russia's actions do not violate the memorandum since Moscow is not using nuclear weapons against Ukraine. However, the memorandum also includes guarantees of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, which analysts argue Russia is not upholding.
Lavrov also expressed readiness for negotiations with the US, claiming that the cancellation of a meeting was due to the American side. Russia is now waiting for new peace proposals from the United States, the diplomat noted.
US President Donald Trump responded by saying Russia should end the war instead of testing new missiles. He emphasized that the US has deterrence capabilities, referencing the presence of American nuclear arms near Russia. Trump also commented on the EU's plans to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, stating that such decisions are up to the Europeans themselves.
US officials believe Ukraine has already made significant concessions in the talks, while Russia has yet to fulfill its obligations. As a result, the US is less inclined to pressure Ukraine and expects concrete steps from Moscow. This stance may influence the future of the negotiation process and prospects for ending the war.
