FM: Russia must be included in Ukraine security guarantees

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia agrees that Ukraine’s security guarantees should be provided on an equal basis with the participation of China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, while emphasising that the issue cannot be resolved without Russia.

“As for reports that the UK, France, and Germany want to develop collective security guarantees, we are in favour of these guarantees being truly reliable,” Lavrov said at a joint press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi.

Lavrov noted that during the talks in Istanbul in April 2022, the Ukrainian delegation proposed including in the peace agreement a clause on the development of security guarantees for Ukraine by the permanent members of the UN Security Council — Russia, China, France, the US, and the UK.

“Plus some other countries. Germany, Türkiye, and other countries that may be interested in joining this group of security guarantors were mentioned,” Lavrov explained. According to him, the Russian side supported this proposal at the time.

“We cannot agree with the current proposal to resolve issues of security and collective security without the Russian Federation. This will not work. We have explained more than once that Russia does not exaggerate its interests, but we will firmly and resolutely protect our legitimate interests,” Lavrov emphasised.

The day before, US President Donald Trump said that France, Great Britain, and Germany were ready to deploy their troops on the territory of Ukraine if peace was concluded.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that European allies and Washington agreed that future security guarantees should include support for the Ukrainian army and the creation of security forces at sea, in the air, and on land.

By Tamilla Hasanova