Lavrov: Putin is not ready to meet Zelenski

2025-08-22 17:24:27Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Lavrov: Putin is not ready to meet Zelenski
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Russia's Foreign Minister says Vladimir Putin will not meet with Volodymyr Zelensky until he bows to Moscow's demands.

Sergei Lavrov claims that the Ukrainian president was presented with "some principles necessary for peace", but had said "not for everything".

"Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky when the agenda is ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all," he told NBC News.

"When President Trump brought ... these issues at the meeting in Washington, it was very clear to everyone that there are some principles that Washington believes should be accepted, including non-membership in NATO, including discussing territorial issues, and Zelensky said no to everything.

He even said no to the repeal of legislation banning the Russian language. How can we meet with a person who claims to be a leader?", Lavrov continued.

Lavrov insisted that Moscow had agreed to compromise on a number of issues discussed with Donald Trump during his meeting with Putin in Alaska last week.

Speaking afterwards, Zelensky accused Russia of doing "everything" it could to prevent a meeting between him and Putin and called on the West to implement new sanctions on Moscow if it refuses to end the war.

Sources close to the Kremlin said on Friday that Putin was still demanding that Ukraine withdraw from the entire Donbas region, despite Zelensky refusing to give up territory held by Ukraine.


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