Lavrov: Summit of China, US and Russia Leaders Meets All Parties’ Interests
Where should Zelenskyy meet Putin if he truly desires such a meeting? Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov offered a direct answer: Moscow.
On October 30 local time, following his participation in the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta, USA, Lavrov stated that if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy genuinely wishes to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he should travel to Moscow in person.
Moreover, Lavrov delivered a sobering message to Kyiv: Ukraine’s position on strikes targeting locations within Russian territory does not contribute to creating conditions for the originally scheduled talks in Abu Dhabi.
The signal is unambiguous: Moscow has no intention of making concessions on negotiation terms simply because Kyiv has raised the prospect of a meeting.
Beyond the Ukrainian issue, Lavrov also addressed several other pressing international developments.
First, he expressed positive sentiment toward the upcoming summit among the leaders of China, the United States, and Russia in Shenzhen, noting that such high-level dialogue carries significant practical relevance under current global circumstances and aligns with the interests of all parties involved.
Second, regarding Russia-U.S. relations, Lavrov emphasized that the trajectory of bilateral ties after the U.S. midterm elections will depend on tangible actions taken by Washington. In other words, Moscow will not base its assessment of relations solely on political rhetoric from American officials.
On the matter of Ukraine, Lavrov reiterated that Russia’s position since the last trilateral meeting has remained unchanged, and he acknowledged the Trump administration’s recognition of the underlying causes of the conflict.
He also offered sharp criticism of European states, stating that their past conduct has demonstrated that their credibility must be questioned when they attempt to serve as guarantors of agreements related to Ukraine.
In addition, Lavrov affirmed Russia’s support for the U.S. presidency of the G20 to advance efforts toward de-politicization of discussions, while opposing Poland’s bid for a special, separate seat at the G20 summit, which he described as inconsistent with diplomatic norms and unlikely to add substantive value to the process.
On the issue of the return of previously seized Russian diplomatic properties in the U.S., Lavrov candidly noted there has been no progress to date.
Overall, Moscow’s current diplomatic posture remains clear: while open to maintaining communication with Washington and even supportive of high-level summits involving China, the United States, and Russia, it shows no sign of softening its stance on Ukraine.
Whether Zelenskyy will agree to travel to Moscow—and whether meaningful breakthroughs can emerge in negotiations planned for Abu Dhabi—will ultimately depend on concrete actions taken by all sides in the coming period.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1880528124391424/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.