Lavrov, Rubio speak by phone
(MENAFN) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone on Thursday, focusing on the conflict in Ukraine and ongoing international efforts to reach a potential settlement, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
During the call, Rubio updated Lavrov on meetings held earlier that day in Paris between U.S. representatives and officials from Ukraine, France, and other European countries. Lavrov emphasized Russia’s willingness to cooperate with the U.S. in addressing what Moscow considers the underlying causes of the Ukraine crisis.
The U.S. State Department confirmed the call, stating that Rubio shared the same message with Lavrov as he did with European and Ukrainian officials: that President Donald Trump is committed to ending the war and has now presented a proposal for a “durable and lasting peace.” The Department described the response to the U.S. framework at the Paris meetings as “encouraging,” though it did not share specific details.
The Paris talks included high-level representatives from all involved parties. Rubio led the U.S. delegation alongside Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who has taken a central role in the negotiations. Ukraine was represented by President Vladimir Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
Zelensky strongly criticized Witkoff following the talks, accusing him of promoting “Russian narratives” and aligning with Moscow’s viewpoint. At a press conference on Thursday, Zelensky rejected Witkoff’s earlier comments suggesting a peace deal would involve discussions over five contested regions: Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, Kherson, and Crimea.
“Mr. Witkoff has clearly taken up the Russian narrative, knowingly or not,” Zelensky said. “He has no authority to negotiate about Ukrainian territory.”
Witkoff had recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg—marking their third direct meeting since February. In a Fox News interview earlier this week, Witkoff stated that acknowledging the status of the five regions is essential for any peace deal.
Crimea joined Russia in 2014 following a referendum held after Ukraine’s Maidan revolution. The other four regions were incorporated into Russia in late 2022 through similar referendums.
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