MOSCOW. Russia warned Wednesday that attempts to resolve Ukraine’s security concerns without its involvement would lead “to a road to nowhere,” as Western leaders explore possible guarantees for Kyiv’s future protection.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized European leaders who met with U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday to discuss security arrangements aimed at ending the war, now in its fourth year.
“We cannot agree with the fact that now it is proposed to resolve questions of security, collective security, without the Russian Federation. This will not work,” Lavrov said at a joint press conference with Jordan’s foreign minister. He added that any serious discussion on security without Russia was “a utopia.”
U.S. and European officials have begun shaping post-conflict security guarantees for Ukraine, though Lavrov dismissed such efforts as pointless. He also accused European leaders of trying to pressure Washington into escalating the conflict, calling their actions “clumsy” and “unethical.”
Trump said earlier this week the United States would help guarantee Ukraine’s security but ruled out sending U.S. ground forces, while suggesting air support could be part of a final deal. Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said Ukrainian officials were already working with Western allies on the military component of the guarantees.
NATO’s military committee also held discussions on Ukraine on Wednesday, with its chair, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, saying the priority remained “a just, credible and durable peace.”
Meanwhile, tensions rose in Eastern Europe after Polish officials said a Russian drone likely crashed in a cornfield overnight. Poland’s defense minister accused Moscow of “provocation” at a crucial time in peace discussions.
Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s rejection of any NATO troop deployment in Ukraine and said Russia supported “truly reliable” security guarantees modeled on draft proposals discussed in Istanbul in 2022. That plan included guarantees from permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, but Kyiv rejected it at the time because it would have given Moscow veto power over military responses.
Despite renewed high-level meetings in Washington and elsewhere, little progress has been made on core obstacles to peace. Analysts say the deadlock benefits Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose forces continue to advance slowly in Ukraine.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described Monday’s White House talks as exceeding expectations, while Zelenskyy called them “an important step toward ending this war.” But NATO leaders cautioned that major details remain unresolved.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
