Russia's Foreign Minister Says No Putin-zelenskyy Summit Planned Despite Trump's Peace Push

“President Trump suggested, aft Anchorage, respective points which we stock and connected immoderate of them, we agreed to be…to show immoderate flexibility,” he said, referring to nan Aug. 15 gathering pinch Putin successful Alaska.

“When President Trump brought … those issues to nan gathering successful Washington,” Lavrov continued, “it was very clear to everybody that location are respective principles which Washington believes must beryllium accepted, including nary NATO membership, including nan discussion of territorial issues, and Zelenskyy said nary to everything.”

Lavrov added: “He moreover said nary to, arsenic I said, to canceling authorities prohibiting nan Russian language. How tin we meet pinch a personification who is pretending to beryllium a leader?”

Ukraine has not outlawed Russian, but Putin has agelong claimed, without evidence, that Kyiv has committed genocide against Russian speakers successful Ukraine’s eastbound Donbas region. He has besides sought to formed uncertainty connected nan legitimacy of Zelenskyy, who was democratically elected president of Ukraine successful 2019.

Zelenskyy said Thursday that Russia was trying to “wriggle out” of holding a meeting, accusing it of continuing “massive attacks” connected Ukraine.

He has stressed that he is “ready” for a gathering pinch Putin, and urged a “strong guidance from nan United States,” including tougher sanctions and caller economical pressure, if Putin refuses.

Lavrov’s comments came aft Russia launched its largest battle since early July, firing astir 600 drones and 40 ballistic and cruise missiles overnight Thursday, including astatine a U.S.-owned Flex electronics mill successful occidental Ukraine wherever astatine slightest 15 workers were injured.