Russia on Tuesday stated that the United States has abandoned its role as an "objective mediator" in efforts to end the Ukraine war, which began with Moscow's 2022 offensive. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the remarks during a meeting with foreign envoys in Moscow, criticizing Washington for escalating sanctions pressure on Russia instead of pursuing impartial mediation.
Lavrov's Accusations Against the US and Europe
"As for the United States, judging by their actions, they appear to be abandoning any claim to the role of an objective mediator and are instead pursuing a course of escalating sanctions pressure on Russia," Lavrov told the envoys. He also warned that by providing military support to Ukraine, "Europe is once again becoming a major threat to international peace and security."
Status of US-Led Peace Talks
US-led negotiations to end the conflict, Europe's deadliest since World War II, remain stalled. President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House in 2025, had pledged to end the war within a day of taking office but has since shifted focus to the Middle East after ordering strikes on Iran in late February. Despite this, during a G7 summit in France earlier this month, leaders including Trump agreed on a final statement referencing the Ukraine war—a contrast to last year's meeting where Trump left early. The leaders committed to increasing air defense supplies to Ukraine and tightening sanctions on Russia's "war economy," particularly targeting fossil fuel revenues.
Preconditions for Peace Talks
Russia has demanded that Ukraine withdraw from the eastern Donbas region—parts of which remain under Kyiv's control—as a precondition for peace talks. Ukraine has rejected this, arguing it would only embolden Moscow. Since the 2022 invasion, Russia has maintained maximalist demands, while Kyiv refuses to concede territory.
