MOSCOW, (TDI): Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has firmly rejected the deployment of Western peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of any proposed settlement to end the ongoing conflict.
In an interview with TASS news agency, Lavrov criticized suggestions by French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to station foreign troops in Ukraine to enforce a peace deal.
He also expressed dissatisfaction with proposals from US President-elect Donald Trump, including a plan to delay Ukraine’s NATO membership for 20 years and deploy a peacekeeping contingent of British and European forces.
“We are not satisfied with these proposals,” Lavrov said, reiterating Moscow’s opposition.
Trump, set to take office in three weeks, has claimed he could secure a peace deal within 24 hours, leveraging Washington’s financial and military support to Kyiv.
Russia’s Objectives and NATO Criticism
Lavrov emphasized that securing Ukraine’s non-aligned status is a key objective of Russia’s military operation. He attributed the conflict to NATO’s expansion, which he called one of the “root causes” of the crisis.
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“NATO personnel and mercenaries are actively involved in planning and conducting combat operations alongside Ukrainian forces,” Lavrov stated, accusing the alliance of participating in attacks on Russian territory, including the Kursk Region.
He dismissed accusations of Russian escalation as hypocritical. “Those who accuse Russia should look in the mirror,” he said, referencing NATO’s involvement in long-range missile strikes.
No Participation in Peace Summit
Lavrov also ruled out Moscow’s involvement in a proposed “peace summit” or acknowledgment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statements.
“We base our actions on facts, not words, especially from the Kyiv regime,” Lavrov said, adding, “We will not participate in the peace summit, even if invited.”
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Lavrov’s remarks underscore Russia’s firm stance on Ukraine and its ongoing criticism of NATO and Western nations for their roles in the conflict.
