Russia insists on its inclusion in any Ukraine security talks, rejecting European efforts as aggressive. Foreign Minister Lavrov dismissed Trump's push for a Putin-Zelenskyy summit, suggesting any meeting requires careful planning and implies Ukraine's acceptance of Russia's terms. While Moscow hasn't entirely ruled out a summit, it's clear Putin views such a meeting as only beneficial if it leads to Ukrainian capitulation. Russia continues to stall on negotiations, prioritizing its demands and showing no signs of compromise.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.