Moscow backs Trump’s Alaska proposals, warns Middle East risks persist

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow had accepted proposals put forward by US President Donald Trump during talks in Alaska, while accusing Europe and Ukraine of attempting to steer Washington away from those initiatives.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov following bilateral talks in Moscow, Lavrov said Kyiv was concerned that the escalating situation surrounding Iran was diverting international attention from Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"Ukraine is worried that the situation [around Iran] is distracting attention from the support Kyiv wants to receive from the West on an ever-increasing scale. It is also distracting the United States, which Europe is very much trying to draw into unequivocal support for Kyiv," Lavrov said.

Turning to developments in the Middle East, the Russian foreign minister said the memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran had failed to produce the expected results, leaving regional security risks unresolved.

"First of all, we had great hopes for, and actively supported, the steps taken by the United States and Iran when the memorandum of understanding was signed. Both sides initially spoke highly of the document, and at first it seemed that everything would proceed more or less smoothly, but those expectations were not fulfilled. The parties accuse each other of violations. Missile exchanges are continuing," he said.

Lavrov added that the security situation in the region remains unstable.

"The risks to security remain. The Israeli leadership has publicly stated that it is not bound by the provisions of the memorandum. President Trump has also said that, for him, the memorandum no longer exists. Meanwhile, Israel is actively — and, I would say, persistently — pursuing its policy in southern Lebanon and southern Syria," he said.

Lavrov stressed that Russia remains in contact with all parties involved in the conflict and continues to advocate an immediate ceasefire.

"Of course, in our contacts with all the parties involved, we call for the earliest possible ceasefire and for the situation to return to the point where the Strait of Hormuz was completely open, functioning without any problems and without any charges," he said.

The Russian foreign minister also warned that the prolonged crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is weighing on the global economy and disrupting international transport routes.

"We discussed this issue today, including the implementation of the Rasht–Astara railway project, and it is indeed very important, especially in a situation where the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz appears to be dragging on, with the global economy and international transport routes suffering as a result," Lavrov said.

By Vafa Guliyeva