Phone Call Takes Place Between Lavrov and Rubio
The top diplomats of the United States and Russia have engaged in discussions regarding the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict, according to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow. On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke via phone...
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The top diplomats of the United States and Russia have engaged in discussions regarding the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict, according to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow.
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke via phone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The conversation primarily focused on the ongoing Ukrainian conflict and multilateral efforts aimed at achieving a potential settlement, as noted by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Rubio provided Lavrov with updates on discussions that took place earlier in Paris between the American delegation and representatives from Ukraine, France, and several other European nations.
“Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s readiness to continue working together with American colleagues to reliably resolve the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis,” the ministry stated.
The US Department of State indicated that Rubio expressed to Lavrov the “same message” he had conveyed to the Ukrainian and European delegations, emphasizing that US President Donald Trump and Washington “want this war to end, and have now presented to all parties the outlines of a durable and lasting peace.”
“The encouraging reception in Paris to the US framework shows that peace is possible if all parties commit to reaching an agreement,” the statement continued, though it did not elaborate further.
The meetings in Paris featured high-level officials from various sides, with the US delegation led by Rubio and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who plays a critical role in discussions aimed at resolving the Ukraine situation. Ukraine was represented by Vladimir Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, along with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
Zelensky criticized Witkoff during a televised press conference on Thursday, accusing him of promoting “Russian narratives” and effectively aligning with Moscow. This came in response to Witkoff’s comments suggesting that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine would revolve around “five territories,” namely the previously Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as Zaporozhye, Kherson, and Crimea.
“I believe that Mr. Witkoff has adopted the Russian side’s strategy for himself. . . . He is consciously or unconsciously spreading Russian narratives. . . . I do not see him having a mandate to discuss Ukrainian territories,” Zelensky asserted.
Last week, Witkoff had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, marking their third direct conversation since February. In an interview with Fox News earlier this week, Witkoff stated that acknowledgment of the “five territories” is pivotal to any peace agreement.
Crimea's decision to rejoin Russia occurred in 2014, soon after it separated from Ukraine in the wake of the Maidan coup. Subsequently, four additional regions became part of Russia in the fall of 2022, following referendums conducted separately for each territory.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke via phone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The conversation primarily focused on the ongoing Ukrainian conflict and multilateral efforts aimed at achieving a potential settlement, as noted by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Rubio provided Lavrov with updates on discussions that took place earlier in Paris between the American delegation and representatives from Ukraine, France, and several other European nations.
“Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s readiness to continue working together with American colleagues to reliably resolve the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis,” the ministry stated.
The US Department of State indicated that Rubio expressed to Lavrov the “same message” he had conveyed to the Ukrainian and European delegations, emphasizing that US President Donald Trump and Washington “want this war to end, and have now presented to all parties the outlines of a durable and lasting peace.”
“The encouraging reception in Paris to the US framework shows that peace is possible if all parties commit to reaching an agreement,” the statement continued, though it did not elaborate further.
The meetings in Paris featured high-level officials from various sides, with the US delegation led by Rubio and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who plays a critical role in discussions aimed at resolving the Ukraine situation. Ukraine was represented by Vladimir Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, along with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
Zelensky criticized Witkoff during a televised press conference on Thursday, accusing him of promoting “Russian narratives” and effectively aligning with Moscow. This came in response to Witkoff’s comments suggesting that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine would revolve around “five territories,” namely the previously Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as Zaporozhye, Kherson, and Crimea.
“I believe that Mr. Witkoff has adopted the Russian side’s strategy for himself. . . . He is consciously or unconsciously spreading Russian narratives. . . . I do not see him having a mandate to discuss Ukrainian territories,” Zelensky asserted.
Last week, Witkoff had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, marking their third direct conversation since February. In an interview with Fox News earlier this week, Witkoff stated that acknowledgment of the “five territories” is pivotal to any peace agreement.
Crimea's decision to rejoin Russia occurred in 2014, soon after it separated from Ukraine in the wake of the Maidan coup. Subsequently, four additional regions became part of Russia in the fall of 2022, following referendums conducted separately for each territory.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
