Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Thursday that some voices in the West are now indicating a willingness to discuss peace in Ukraine, acknowledging the failure of attempts to defeat Russian forces in the region. Moscow currently controls approximately 17.5% of Ukrainian territory.
Lavrov, in an interview with RIA state news agency and Rossiya 24 TV channel, mentioned a potential change in Western tactics and strategy on Ukraine. He remarked on suggestions for Russia to engage in talks about Ukraine with European representatives, excluding Ukraine from the discussions.
“The West is really changing its tactics – maybe even thinking about clarifying the strategy. Because if the ‘strategic defeat of Russia’ is a strategy, forgive the tautology, then this strategy failed miserably,” Lavrov said.
President Vladimir Putin, while expressing readiness for peace talks, emphasizes that they must occur on Russia’s terms. U.S. officials speculate that Putin might be awaiting the 2024 U.S. presidential election before making significant peace moves.
Ukraine remains firm in its stance to eject every Russian soldier from its territory. Lavrov’s comments come amidst discussions of a “peace formula” proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Lavrov claimed that major Western powers had met secretly to discuss this formula, with plans for a meeting in January and a “peace summit” in February. The Zelenskiy peace plan includes the withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine’s state borders.
The complexity of the situation is compounded by Moscow’s rejection of the Zelenskiy proposal, arguing that it excludes Russia from direct talks. As tensions persist, the geopolitical landscape remains fluid, awaiting potential developments in the coming months.
