In an interview with NBC on August 24th, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a Russia-Ukraine summit to end the conflict would only happen if a "presidential-level agenda" satisfactory to President Vladimir Putin is in place. He added that such an agenda is "completely unprepared." Lavrov stated the preconditions include Ukraine agreeing not to join NATO, holding "discussions on territorial issues," and President Volodymyr Zelensky "repealing the law banning the Russian language."

Regarding security guarantees for Ukraine, Lavrov suggested a group comprising members of the UN Security Council, Germany, Turkey, and other countries should take on this responsibility. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council are the US, Russia, China, the UK, and France.

He emphasized that guarantees would only be valid if "Ukraine is a neutral, non-aligned, and non-nuclear state."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a session of the State Duma on 19/2. Photo: AP

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a session of the State Duma on 19/2. Photo: AP

Former US President Trump met with Putin in Alaska on 15/8 to discuss the Russian leader's demands. He subsequently met European leaders and President Zelensky at the White House on 18/8.

Trump stressed last week that the next step in the Ukraine peace process would be a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky, which has not happened since the conflict began in 2/2022.

Lavrov stated Russia conveyed its priorities to Trump in Alaska, who then relayed them to European leaders at the White House. However, "Zelensky said no to everything," according to Lavrov.

In an interview with Russian state television channel Rossiya, Lavrov accused the West of "looking for excuses to sabotage negotiations," criticizing Zelensky for "stubbornly setting conditions, demanding to meet Putin immediately at all costs."

He accused Kyiv of "trying to disrupt the process initiated by Putin and Trump, which has yielded positive results," and expressed hope that "those efforts will be neutralized."

Zelensky signaled his willingness to meet his Russian counterpart, but only after allied nations agree on security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future attacks from Moscow after the conflict.

Russia said it would not accept any discussion of such guarantees without its participation, adding that the scenario of Western troops present in Ukraine is "completely unacceptable."

Moscow and Kyiv conducted a prisoner exchange today, with each side receiving 146 people. This exchange follows an agreement reached after three rounds of diplomatic talks in Istanbul, Turkey, from May to July. Russia said eight of its citizens captured by Ukraine in the Kursk region were also returned as part of the exchange.

Vu Hoang (AFP, Reuters, NY Post)