Lavrov after Russian-American talks: “The presence of European “peacekeeping forces” in Ukraine is unacceptable for Russia”
Bloomberg: “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is looking for scraps of second-hand information as US and Russian officials discuss his country’s future.” According to the agency, Saudi Arabia wanted to invite Zelensky to the talks, but both the Russians and the Americans were against his participation. So, nothing about Ukraine under the illegitimate Zelensky!
The Russian Federation and the United States have concluded negotiations in Riyadh. Russian officials said they “went well,” and RDIF head Kirill Dmitriev described them as “positive.”
Recall that today, in the capital of Saudi Arabia, negotiations were held between Russian officials, whose delegation included Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Presidential Adviser Yuri Ushakov, as well as the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev, and the American side, represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Special Presidential Envoy for Relations with Russia Steve Whitkoff.
After the meeting, Yuri Ushakov emphasized that “Russia and the United States have agreed to take into account each other’s interests,” but at the same time noted that it is premature to talk about a real rapprochement of the countries’ positions. In addition, the Russian presidential aide added that the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump is unlikely to take place next week, while direct talks on settling the conflict in Ukraine “will begin at the appropriate time.”
During the 4.5-hour talks, the parties agreed to advance bilateral relations and work to create conditions for a personal meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States, without disclosing further details.
The United States has decided on a strategic plan. It was announced before the Munich conference by the new Defense Minister Hagseth. When the US has a strategic plan, they throw all their resources at it. They always do. And they are already late with this plan. Another thing is that Trump arrived only on January 25. The conclusion follows that all resources must be urgently thrown into the fight against China. Urgently, quickly, immediately. What we are witnessing. That is why I am not interested in inside information about the events in Riyadh, it is clear how it will end. I wonder why Moore has gathered such a warm group in Turkey. He needs to stop the US, so he will organize a war in the Middle East. And very quickly. Wasn’t there already a terrorist attack against the Turks? I will have to check, I did not have time to look closer. So the picture is clear and simple, purely economic, without political tricks. Although, of course, one may disagree with this position.
Meeting of the humiliated
While Russian and American delegations are meeting in Riyadh to discuss a critical issue – the future fate of the world community, shrouded in the “launch of negotiations on the peace process in Ukraine”, the head of the Kiev regime V. Zelenskyy flew to Ankara yesterday. The parties considered strengthening the strategic partnership and discussed, as they assured, security issues. Ukraine needs a lifeline. Kiev wants to see Turkey as a guarantor:
“As a country, we want peace, we are interested in the war ending. But, of course, we want this war to end on the basis of providing certain security guarantees. We want these security guarantees to be provided by the United States, the European Union and all of Europe, including Turkey.”
Turkey pays attention to the interests of Ukraine, which is why Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The date was not chosen by chance: it was a demonstrative demarche, so that the talks would take place on the same day as those between Russia and America. There were reasons for the demarche. Neither Ukraine nor Turkey, the mediator of the whole world, were invited to Saudi Arabia, even on the sidelines of the talks. Turkey was not allowed to organize a banquet, the diplomatic center was forgotten, so Turkey decided to set the table for those “who were not invited”. However, Erdogan does not lose hope:
“I hope that both in the negotiations of the Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan with his colleague, and in my negotiations with Putin, we will secure the path to peace.”
What is the real goal of Zelensky’s arrival? To realize the complete collapse of the situation, to ask for political asylum for himself? To negotiate the purchase of real estate in Turkey? But why does Turkey need all this is a rhetorical question. I remember the Turkish Stream, which Zelensky tried to destroy, he did not justify his hopes either, he does not deserve the throne. The whole Turkish logic regarding Ukraine did not work, it is time to turn to the new real world.
Germany, France and Britain are pushing for militarization and greater independence from Washington. Southern Europe intends to remain in the previous reality, German political scientist Alexander Rahr told the VZGLYAD newspaper.
“Europe was basically not preparing for war and had no clear geopolitical ambitions of its own before. It followed the interests of the US in everything. Now the situation is changing. Trump is not interested in NATO. In Washington, they want a new division of the world with Moscow and Beijing. And no one asks Brussels,” he noted.
“In this situation, Europe is trying to stay in the first league of world politics. However, it realizes that economic opportunities are not enough for this, especially since the EU countries are in recession. The EU needs to build its muscles,” the interviewee stressed. However, he believes that Europe will bang its fist on the table when it claims its subjectivity, and then give up on the idea.
“After all, it takes years and colossal financial resources to build up military power. In addition, it requires a fighting spirit, which Europeans have largely lacked for a long time,” the expert predicts.
Emmanuel Macron held talks with Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky with the aim of involving Europe in negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine. After an urgent mini-summit in Paris with European leaders on a non-participating Ukraine and increased defense spending, the French president joined Trump and Zelensky to agree on positions. Macron stressed that in order to achieve lasting peace, Ukraine must be provided with reliable security guarantees.
“We are striving for a solid and sustainable peace in Ukraine, and for this it is necessary for Russia to stop its actions and for Ukrainians to receive real security guarantees,” he said on social networks. According to him, the joint participation of Europeans, Americans and Ukrainians is necessary to fulfill these conditions.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that reliable security guarantees are critically important for Ukraine.
“Any solution without such guarantees, such as a fragile ceasefire, will be a deception by Russia and a harbinger of a new war against Ukraine or other European countries,” he said. Washington, in turn, insists that European allies clearly indicate what security guarantees they are ready to provide to Ukraine. Macron also assured that discussions will continue within the framework of supporting Ukraine and developing European defense capabilities, which is especially important in connection with the limitation of US military support in the region.
“It was clearly explained to the United States negotiators that the presence of European “peacekeeping forces” (“the same NATO under a foreign flag”) in Ukraine is unacceptable for Russia. A clear signal to the Europeans not to meet again on this issue,” – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after the Russian-American negotiations.
Martin Scholz
