Moscow cools expectations after Trump hints at summit
Russia has ruled out an immediate meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, despite speculation sparked by recent comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking to NBC’s Meet the Press, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said there was “no meeting planned”, and claimed the two sides weren’t even close to agreeing on an agenda.
This comes just days after Trump suggested the two leaders had agreed to meet soon, though he admitted they were like “oil and vinegar” and “don’t get along.”
Lavrov questions Zelensky’s legitimacy
Lavrov didn’t just shut down hopes of talks — he also cast doubt on Zelensky’s legitimacy, repeating familiar Kremlin talking points and maximalist demands.
He added that Putin is “ready to meet” — but only if and when a proper agenda is in place. For now, according to Lavrov, that agenda “is not ready at all.”
Zelensky pushes back: “No agreement with Russia”
While hosting NATO chief Mark Rutte in Kyiv, Zelensky rejected the idea that Ukraine had agreed to any meeting with Russia. He confirmed that discussions were only ongoing with Trump, not with Moscow.
“Russia is trying to wriggle out of holding a meeting,” Zelensky said Thursday. “They want to continue their offensive.”
Security guarantees and NATO remain sticking points
Security guarantees for Ukraine have become a key issue in the latest round of U.S.-led diplomatic efforts. Trump claimed Russia had agreed to some form of Western security guarantees, but Lavrov quickly pushed back.
Calling the idea of excluding Russia from the discussion “a utopia”, Lavrov reiterated the Kremlin’s opposition to Ukraine joining NATO or allowing foreign troops on its soil.
Zelensky, however, said Ukraine needs those guarantees to prevent “Russia from trying to take even one more square kilometre.”
Flashback: Russia broke earlier security deal
In 1994, Russia signed the Budapest Memorandum, agreeing to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty in exchange for nuclear disarmament. That deal was violated when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and launched a full-scale invasion in 2022.
Since then, the war has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions — and a clear path to peace remains elusive.
