Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied reports that Vladimir Putin has agreed to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, labeling them as “speculations spread primarily by Zelenskyy and his European sponsors.”
Denial of Meeting Reports
Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, gave an interview to the American station NBC News on Sunday, August 24. Lavrov referred to reports about the agreement of Vladimir Putin to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and denied these reports. He stated that “these are speculations spread primarily by Zelenskyy and his European sponsors.”
Russian Foreign Minister: Agenda Must Be Ready
Lavrov said that Putin may meet with Zelenskyy “provided that the meeting will really decide on something.” He emphasized that there is no planned meeting, adding, “There must be a ready agenda for the summit, and it is not ready at all.” Lavrov also mentioned that the Kremlin is ready to continue direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations under the Istanbul format. He stressed that Putin insisted any potential leader meeting must be well-prepared, noting that Russia has proposed elevating the delegation level in Istanbul.
Trump-Putin Talks in Alaska. Lavrov: Zelenskyy Agreed to Nothing
Lavrov also addressed the meeting between Trump and Putin that took place on August 15 in Alaska. Russia’s Foreign Minister revealed that after these talks, Trump presented several proposals accepted by the Kremlin. He noted, “In some of them, we agreed to show certain flexibility.” Lavrov added that, according to Americans, the end of the war in Ukraine must include negotiations on territorial issues and Ukraine’s non-membership in NATO. He claimed, “Zelenskyy agreed to nothing.” Lavrov accused Ukrainians and European leaders of attempting to undermine solutions discussed by Trump and Putin in Alaska.
Source: Gazeta, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/siergiej-lawrow#anchorLink, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/ministerstwo-spraw-zagranicznych#anchorLink, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7
