Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, has described as "unacceptable" any plans to deploy European peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of a peace deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Lavrov spoke following the conclusion of talks with Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, in Saudia Arabia on Tuesday, the first high-level contacts between Russia and the U.S. since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.
According to details of a still unverified peace plan formed by the Trump administration, European troops would be deployed to ensure any agreement on ending the conflict holds. The U.S. has ruled out sending troops but has encouraged European states to take the lead in securing stability and security in Europe.
On Monday, the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, said he was “ready and willing” to send British troops to Ukraine to help keep the peace if a deal is signed.
But pouring cold water on the idea of European peacekeepers and on any notion that Ukraine could join NATO, Lavrov said: “We explained today that the appearance of armed forces from the same NATO countries, but under a false flag, under the flag of the European Union, or under national flags, does not change anything in this regard. Of course, this is unacceptable to us.”
Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, said the meeting with Lavrov, which went ahead despite Ukraine not being present, was the “first step” in resolving the conflict and that "no one would be sidelined.”
According to details of a still unverified peace plan formed by the Trump administration, European troops would be deployed to ensure any agreement on ending the conflict holds. The U.S. has ruled out sending troops but has encouraged European states to take the lead in securing stability and security in Europe.
On Monday, the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, said he was “ready and willing” to send British troops to Ukraine to help keep the peace if a deal is signed.
But pouring cold water on the idea of European peacekeepers and on any notion that Ukraine could join NATO, Lavrov said: “We explained today that the appearance of armed forces from the same NATO countries, but under a false flag, under the flag of the European Union, or under national flags, does not change anything in this regard. Of course, this is unacceptable to us.”
Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, said the meeting with Lavrov, which went ahead despite Ukraine not being present, was the “first step” in resolving the conflict and that "no one would be sidelined.”
‘No one is being sidelined’
Ukraine’s absence, along with that of the EU or other key allies of Ukraine such as the UK, has fueled mounting anxiety in Europe that the Trump administration will try to cut a deal with Moscow over Ukraine without consulting anybody else.
But speaking to the press after meeting with Lavrov, Rubio said that Ukraine and Europe would be involved.
“Today is the first step of a long and difficult journey, but an important one,” he said. “President Trump is committed to bringing an end to this conflict, as he said when he campaigned for president. And he wants it to... end in a way that’s fair, he wants it to end in a way that's sustainable and enduring, not that leads to another conflict in two or three years,” said Rubio.
Adding that “no one is being sidelined here,” he continued: “When you talk about an enduring and sustainable end to the conflict, one that is acceptable to everyone in it, and that includes Ukraine but also our partners in Europe.”
Addressing ways to end the conflict, Rubio said that all sides must make concessions. “We’re not going to predetermine what those are,” he said. “We’re certainly not going to negotiate this today or in a press conference.”
But speaking to the press after meeting with Lavrov, Rubio said that Ukraine and Europe would be involved.
“Today is the first step of a long and difficult journey, but an important one,” he said. “President Trump is committed to bringing an end to this conflict, as he said when he campaigned for president. And he wants it to... end in a way that’s fair, he wants it to end in a way that's sustainable and enduring, not that leads to another conflict in two or three years,” said Rubio.
Adding that “no one is being sidelined here,” he continued: “When you talk about an enduring and sustainable end to the conflict, one that is acceptable to everyone in it, and that includes Ukraine but also our partners in Europe.”
Addressing ways to end the conflict, Rubio said that all sides must make concessions. “We’re not going to predetermine what those are,” he said. “We’re certainly not going to negotiate this today or in a press conference.”
The U.S. is saying things Putin really likes
Stressing the positives, Lavrov described the talks as a “very useful conversation,” adding that Moscow wanted to create the conditions for “re-starting our cooperation in full.”
His words chime with Moscow’s hopes that the talks will lead to a re-set in relations with Washington that will shore up its international standing and end its ostracization by the West.
Looking to the future, Rubio said, “We want to engage and identify the extraordinary opportunities that exist - should this conflict come to an acceptable end - to partner with the Russians geopolitically on issues of common interest and frankly and economically on issues that hopefully will be good for the world.”
In response to the U.S.-Russian messaging emerging from Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said: “The problem is that the United States is saying things today that Putin really likes. I think that’s the whole point because they want to please him, you know what for? To meet each other and achieve success quickly. But what they want is just a ceasefire, and it’s not a success.”
He also stated that “Ukraine would never, under any circumstances, recognize our temporarily occupied territories as part of Russia. They are part of Ukraine.”
His words chime with Moscow’s hopes that the talks will lead to a re-set in relations with Washington that will shore up its international standing and end its ostracization by the West.
Looking to the future, Rubio said, “We want to engage and identify the extraordinary opportunities that exist - should this conflict come to an acceptable end - to partner with the Russians geopolitically on issues of common interest and frankly and economically on issues that hopefully will be good for the world.”
In response to the U.S.-Russian messaging emerging from Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said: “The problem is that the United States is saying things today that Putin really likes. I think that’s the whole point because they want to please him, you know what for? To meet each other and achieve success quickly. But what they want is just a ceasefire, and it’s not a success.”
He also stated that “Ukraine would never, under any circumstances, recognize our temporarily occupied territories as part of Russia. They are part of Ukraine.”
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