The key facts

  • Lavrov at the G20 in Atlanta answered a question about a possible phone conversation between Putin and Zelensky
  • He urged not to trust statements by Ukrainian officials and recalled Putin's readiness to meet in Moscow
  • Earlier, the group photo with Lavrov was cancelled at the G20 meeting

Answer to the question about talks

At a press conference following the first day of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov answered a question from a journalist of the German media company Deutsche Welle (the organization is designated as undesirable and a foreign agent in the Russian Federation). The journalist asked why Moscow, in his words, prefers a telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky to an in-person meeting, citing statements by Ukrainian officials. Lavrov clarified the source of the information and, according to the minister's words relayed by TASS, replied: 'Ah, don't believe them.' This was reported by Gazeta.Ru.

Readiness for a meeting

The head of the Foreign Ministry recalled that Putin has repeatedly stated his readiness to meet with Zelensky in Moscow and promised that the Russian side would guarantee the safety and security of the Ukrainian politician. At the same time, Lavrov noted that Zelensky's attitude, as he continues to speak of strikes on the Russian Federation, 'does not really help in preparing for talks'. Thus, the discrepancy between the journalist's question, which was based on statements by the Ukrainian side, and Moscow's position concerns precisely the format of contacts: the Russian side, according to Lavrov, is ready for an in-person meeting, not just a telephone conversation.

Context of the G20 meeting

Earlier, according to Gazeta.Ru, at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting the group photo with Lavrov was cancelled. The publication does not report on the content of the summit's final agreements or on whether any contacts on the Ukrainian issue took place besides the press conference.