Kremlin cautions against public disclosure amid Ukraine deal talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reiterated the Kremlin's openness to reaching a peace agreement with the United States over the war in Ukraine, while underlining the necessity of maintaining confidentiality during the ongoing negotiations.

Speaking in an interview with Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan on April 24, Lavrov said Moscow is “ready to reach a deal,” but acknowledged that certain aspects of the agreement still require refinement, Caliber.Az reports.

“The President of the United States believes, and I think rightly so, that we are moving in the right direction,” he remarked, signalling cautious optimism amid heightened global scrutiny.

Lavrov was, however, adamant about the sensitive nature of the discussions. Declining to share details or provide a timeline for a possible resolution, he said, “The negotiations are not supposed to be public.” He added, “The negotiations continue, and until the end of the negotiations, we cannot disclose what it is about.”

His remarks come as international concern mounts over a deadly overnight missile strike on Kyiv by Russian forces. The assault, which killed at least eight people and injured more than 70, marked the deadliest attack on the Ukrainian capital in months and coincided with intensified US efforts to broker a ceasefire.

Despite the violence, Lavrov noted there are “several signs that we are moving in the right direction.” He credited US President Donald Trump for his diplomatic efforts, calling him “probably the only leader on Earth who recognized the need to address the root causes of this situation.”

In a rare public rebuke of his Russian counterpart, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he was “not happy” with the Kyiv strikes, calling the timing “very bad” as peace talks progress.

With just days left before the Trump administration’s self-imposed 100-day deadline to end the war, hopes for a swift resolution remain uncertain. While Trump has pledged to broker peace “in a day,” the lack of transparency surrounding the negotiations highlights the delicate—and volatile—dynamics at play.

By Vafa Guliyeva