Russia says talks on Ukraine security guarantees must include Moscow

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says discussing Ukraine information issues without Russia is simply a ‘road to nowhere’.

Russia has warned that attempting to resoluteness information issues relating to Ukraine without the information of Moscow is simply a “road to nowhere”, days aft European leaders met US President Donald Trump to sermon information guarantees for Kyiv.

“We cannot hold with the information that present it is projected to resoluteness questions of security, corporate security, without the Russian Federation. This volition not work,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said connected Wednesday.

“I americium definite that successful the West and supra each successful the United States they recognize perfectly good that earnestly discussing information issues without the Russian Federation is simply a utopia; it’s a roadworthy to nowhere.”

The minister’s comments travel 2 days aft US President Donald Trump hosted Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alongside salient European leaders astatine the White House, and days aft Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump is trying to steer Putin and Zelenskyy towards a settlement much than 3 years aft Russia invaded its neighbour, but large obstacles remain.

The Russian authoritative said immoderate acme betwixt Putin and Zelenskyy “must beryllium prepared successful the astir meticulous way” truthful the gathering does not pb to a “deterioration” of the concern astir the conflict.

Lavrov besides accused European leaders of making “clumsy attempts” to alteration the US president’s presumption connected Ukraine.

“We person lone seen assertive escalation of the concern and alternatively clumsy attempts to alteration the presumption of the US president,” helium said, referring to Monday’s meeting.

“We did not perceive immoderate constructive ideas from the Europeans there,” Lavrov added.

NATO talks

NATO subject chiefs are owed to conscionable connected Wednesday to sermon the details of imaginable information guarantees for Ukraine amid efforts to broker a ceasefire to Russia’s offensive.

NATO’s Military Committee said that 32 defence chiefs from crossed the confederation would clasp a video conference.

US General Alexus Grynkewich, who oversees NATO’s operations successful Europe, volition besides instrumentality portion successful the talks.

Kyiv’s European allies are looking to acceptable up a unit that could backstop immoderate bid agreement, and a conjugation of 30 countries, including European nations, Japan and Australia, person signed up to enactment the initiative.

Military chiefs are considering however that information unit mightiness work. The relation that the US mightiness play is unclear. Trump connected Tuesday ruled retired sending US troops to assistance support Ukraine against Russia.

Russia has repeatedly said that it would not judge NATO troops successful Ukraine.