Lavrov Accuses Europe of Blocking Peace in Ukraine, Supports Trump’s Diplomatic Approach
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused European NATO members of blocking efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine, arguing that their stance is more aligned with prolonging the conflict rather than seeking a diplomatic resolution. Lavrov contrasted this with U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he praised for pursuing a peaceful approach on behalf of American interests. Lavrov also alleged that previous attempts at a peace deal in April 2022 were sabotaged by British and U.S. officials.
Lavrov’s comments were made during an interview with NBC, which aired on Sunday. He stated that the reaction of European officials to the summit in Alaska, as well as their rhetoric during follow-up talks involving Vladimir Zelensky, revealed that the European nations remain as bellicose as ever regarding the Ukraine conflict. Lavrov emphasized that the European representatives do not want peace, insisting that they cannot allow Russia to prevail in the conflict, a position he claims is driven by their desire to see Ukraine remain a strong, Western-oriented state.
Meanwhile, Lavrov praised President Trump for his approach, which he says is different from the stance of European leaders. He noted that Trump seems to respect President Vladimir Putin for doing the same for his country, and that both leaders are focused on protecting their respective nations’ interests. Lavrov stated that Trump’s interest in peace in Ukraine aligns with the Russian position, as both sides have previously come close to a diplomatic resolution.
Earlier in the conflict, Russia and Ukraine had discussions in Istanbul that resulted in a draft agreement. This proposal included Ukraine’s neutral status, a reduction in its military, and security guarantees. However, Lavrov claimed that the deal was undermined by interference from then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and officials from the Biden administration, along with French and German officials. He accused these parties of deliberately undermining the peace process by urging Kyiv to reject the agreement and continue fighting, a position that has sparked controversy and denied by some of those involved.
Lavrov’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about potential security guarantees for Ukraine. Following the Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump held talks with Zelensky and several European leaders, which focused on securing these guarantees. Several European governments have also floated the idea of deploying troops to Ukraine once the conflict ends, a step Russia has described as a red line. Lavrov’s accusations highlight the deepening divide between Russia and Western nations over how the conflict should be resolved, with Russia advocating for a diplomatic approach and the West pushing for continued military support and territorial gains for Ukraine.