Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has dismissed a reported peace proposal involving Ukraine and NATO, allegedly attributed to advisors of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. In a recent interview with TASS, a state-run news agency, Lavrov criticized the plan, claiming it aims to “suspend hostilities along the line of contact” while transferring responsibility for managing the conflict to European nations.
Russia’s Dismissal of the Peace Proposal
According to Lavrov, the purported proposal includes delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership for 20 years and deploying British and European peacekeeping forces within Ukraine. Lavrov expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “We are not happy, of course, with the proposals made by members of the Trump team.” He also suggested that the information came from “leaks” and Trump’s recent TIME Magazine interview, although the interview itself did not directly reference NATO or such a proposal.
No American officials have confirmed the existence of this deal.
NATO’s Alleged Involvement Criticized
Lavrov accused NATO of intensifying the conflict in Ukraine, alleging that the alliance has been directly involved in military operations against Russia.
“NATO military and mercenaries openly participate in the planning of combat operations and fighting on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Lavrov said. He further accused NATO of being complicit in attacks on Russia’s Kursk region and long-range missile strikes inside Russian territory. These claims have been consistently denied by NATO and Western officials.
Lavrov reiterated longstanding Russian grievances, asserting that NATO’s eastward expansion has been a primary driver of the Ukraine crisis.
Trump’s Stance on Ending the War
President-elect Trump has emphasized his desire to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, calling an end to the conflict an “advantage to both sides.” In his TIME Magazine Person of the Year interview, Trump claimed that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if he had been president in 2022.
“I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that?” Trump said. “We’re just escalating this war and making it worse…but I want to reach an agreement, and the only way you’re going to reach an agreement is not to abandon.”
Putin Signals Openness to Negotiations
Lavrov’s remarks come on the heels of Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing conditional openness to peace talks with the incoming U.S. administration. Putin has maintained that Russia holds a strong position in the ongoing conflict and suggested that Ukraine’s capacity to continue fighting is diminishing.
“Soon, those Ukrainians who want to fight will run out,” Putin said during a recent public statement. “We are ready, but the other side needs to be ready for both negotiations and compromises.”
Sources
- TASS Interview with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
- TIME Magazine Interview with President-elect Donald Trump
- Statements from Russian President Vladimir Putin (AFP/Getty Images)
- NATO responses to Russian allegations (prior reporting)
- Analysis of NATO’s role in the Ukraine conflict (academic and defense expert commentary)
