On February 17, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Russia will not give any territorial censeakes to Ukraine ahead of negotiations with US President Donald Trump's team in Saudi Arabia today, February 18.
Previously, President Donald Trump revealed that after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two sides agreed to start negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin confirmed that Foreign Minister Lavrov and Foreign Advisor Yuri Ushakov - who was the Russian Ambassador to Washington - will meet with US officials, including Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Whitkoff in Saudi Arabia to discuss Russia-US relations as well as the possibility of peace negotiations.
Mr. Lavrov flatly rejected any proposal related to the return of the territories currently controlled by Russia - about 20% of Ukraine's area.
Tritorial concessiones with Ukraine were carried out by the Soviet leadership during the founding of the Soviet Union, Reuters quoted Mr. Lavrov as saying, while mocking Kievs plan to exchange natural resources for US support.
How should we make a transfer? With the Russian people or with rare earth resources?" - Mr. Lavrov asked in a subjective question.
In November, Reuters reported that Mr. Putin was ready to negotiate with Mr. Trump but would not accept giving up controlled territories, and asked Ukraine to give up its ambition to join NATO.
A source close to the Kremlin said Putin was serious about finding a deal, but not at all costs.
The US surprised Europe last week by declaring Ukraine unable to join NATO, making a return to the border before 2014 unrealistic, and saying Europe would not participate in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Mr. Lavrov also dismissed the possibility of Europe being present at the negotiation table: "If they are planning to freeze the conflict, while still actually wanting to extend the war, what should we do with them?" - Mr. Lavrov said.
The Russian Foreign Minister noted that the US has played a leading role in the Ukrainian conflict since the beginning and Moscow sees Washington's participation in solving the problem as a potential opportunity.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he is ready to deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. European leaders will meet in Paris on February 18 to discuss the EU's role in a potential ceasefire.
