Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has condemned the leak of a U.S. draft peace proposal aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict, accusing Western officials of trying to undermine President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts. The leaks, which initially surfaced through U.S. media and later expanded by a Ukrainian MP and Axios, were described by Lavrov as deliberate attempts to fan media hype and distort the plan according to the interests of those orchestrating the sabotage. He specifically cited French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders as being behind these efforts, arguing that they lack the best intentions and are intent on derailing Trump’s efforts.
Lavrov clarified that Moscow never received the document through official channels but obtained it unofficially. Despite this, he emphasized that Russia would engage in confidential discussions regarding any proposal the U.S. might submit, without resorting to what he termed ‘megaphone diplomacy.’ He also noted that the Kremlin is willing to discuss the ‘specific wording’ of a potential peace deal, but would not compromise on core objectives that President Vladimir Putin outlined during their meeting with Trump in Alaska earlier this year. Should the ‘spirit of Anchorage’ be erased from the proposal that the U.S. shares with Russia, Lavrov implied, the situation would be radically different.
Macron and other Western officials have consistently rejected any agreement that would allow Kiev to join NATO, host foreign troops, or assert territorial claims. Lavrov argued that these red lines were central to the discussion and that any deviation from them would fundamentally alter the terms of the peace process. The Russian foreign minister also referenced a separate report suggesting that the UK is planning a smear campaign against Trump, further highlighting the complex diplomatic and political dynamics at play.