Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of having repeatedly sabotaged peace negotiations, but offered no evidence to support his claim that Ukraine was responsible for the breakdown of successive diplomatic efforts.
Speaking to reporters, Lavrov cited the Minsk peace process, the 2022 Istanbul negotiations and trilateral meetings in Abu Dhabi, claiming none had ended at Russia’s initiative, Ukraine’s Channel 24 reported
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He alleged that whenever US-backed diplomacy produced an understanding between Moscow and Kyiv, Ukraine undermined it by taking actions he described as unacceptable, including alleged strikes on civilian facilities. The report provided no specific incidents or evidence supporting that accusation.
“Zelensky does not want negotiations and has disrupted them more than once,” Lavrov said.
“Apparently, it’s because he understands that any agreement acceptable to Russia and the US would spell the end of his regime, and of him personally,” Lavrov added.
H2: Trilateral talks stalled after three rounds
Representatives of Ukraine, Russia, and the US held three rounds of trilateral negotiations in early 2026 – two in Abu Dhabi in January and February, followed by another meeting in Geneva on Feb. 17-18.
The talks produced a prisoner exchange but did not result in a comprehensive ceasefire or political settlement.
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The advisor called the information inconsistent amid the deepening row between Kyiv and Washington over Trump’s latest deals with Moscow.
While both sides described the discussions as constructive, they acknowledged that major disagreements remained over occupied Ukrainian territories, security guarantees, and the conditions for ending hostilities.
No further trilateral meetings have taken place since February.
Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine recognize Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory and withdraw its forces from areas that Russia claims but does not fully control. Kyiv has rejected those demands and insists that any settlement must protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and provide enforceable security guarantees.
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