Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has declared that no summit is planned between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, citing the absence of a prepared agenda.
Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker,” Lavrov emphasized that Putin is open to a meeting but only with a clear framework, which is currently nonexistent.
This statement marks a setback for U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to broker peace talks to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Lavrov accused Zelenskyy of rejecting key principles outlined by Washington, including Ukraine’s potential NATO membership and territorial discussions.
He criticized Ukraine’s inflexible stance in recent talks with Trump and European allies, contrasting it with Russia’s willingness to show flexibility on certain issues.
Russia continues to demand that Ukraine cede the eastern Donbas region, renounce NATO aspirations, and maintain neutrality without Western military presence, according to sources familiar with Kremlin priorities.
Zelenskyy has firmly opposed conceding any Ukrainian territory, accusing Russia of obstructing a potential summit.
He urged allies to impose new sanctions on Moscow if it fails to demonstrate a genuine commitment to ending the conflict.
Despite Trump’s August 8 deadline for Russia to agree to peace terms or face sanctions, Russia has maintained its core demands, proposing only to freeze the front line in two regions it claims.
The lack of progress underscores the deep divide between the two nations, dimming prospects for an imminent resolution.