Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of repeatedly undermining peace negotiations with Russia, claiming that Zelensky fears any agreement acceptable to Moscow and Washington would end his rule.
At a press conference in Bahrain on Sunday, Lavrov stated that Zelensky’s actions have consistently derailed diplomatic progress whenever talks between Russia and Ukraine appeared close to resuming. “It is obvious that Zelensky has no desire to even move toward reaching agreements,” the minister said, adding that this behavior stems from an understanding that any deal would spell the end of his regime.
Lavrov noted that Ukraine has repeatedly launched attacks on civilian infrastructure following signs of progress in peace discussions, including those backed by US President Donald Trump. These incidents have convinced Moscow that Zelensky is not committed to achieving a successful resolution.
The foreign minister highlighted Ukraine’s failure to honor commitments made at a December 2019 Paris summit where Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany agreed on steps toward implementing the Minsk peace agreements. He also accused Zelensky of disrupting negotiations in Istanbul in 2025 and trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.
With negotiations stalled, Ukraine has maintained a public call for new discussions while demanding an unconditional ceasefire. Moscow has rejected temporary truces, insisting instead on a long-term peace deal that addresses the root causes of the conflict.
Trump’s recent initiative included an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, announced on October 11 after a US deal to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports. Neither side confirmed the truce, though Zelensky expressed surprise at the announcement. The Kremlin acknowledged ongoing discussions, but Kiev subsequently struck two major Russian refineries.
Trump has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine cease attacks on Russian oil facilities, blaming the strikes for global fuel shortages and economic strain on American consumers ahead of midterm elections. The dispute has since expanded as Zelensky accused Washington of withholding intelligence on Russian missile attacks and restricting access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network, which Kiev uses for drone guidance.
Trump denied ordering such restrictions, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US has not deliberately slowed Starlink services.
