The key facts

  • Lavrov: US proposals will be assessed for economic benefit; there will be no political concessions
  • Peskov hopes for a meeting between Witkoff and Kushner with Putin
  • Zelensky: Witkoff will arrive in Russia on Wednesday; a possible trilateral meeting of leaders is being discussed

Moscow ready to consider proposals but not to concede politically

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow will consider the proposals of US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner but will make no political concessions. Speaking to university graduates who recently joined the diplomatic service, he said that any proposals will be assessed in terms of economic and financial benefit. “We will see what they propose. If they propose something economically and financially beneficial for us, then why not?” Anadolu quoted him as saying. At the same time, according to Lavrov, any agreement must not include political concessions or expectations of political favors in international affairs. “We must rely only on ourselves,” he added.

Comments on sanctions and tariffs

Touching on US President Donald Trump's decision to lift key sanctions against Russia, Lavrov said Trump has not abandoned the tariff measure but made it clear that large-scale duties at the current stage do not serve Washington's interests. “What they need right now (although he did not say it directly, everyone understands) is to prevent a deep crisis in global energy markets before the elections. And that is why they are fine with Russian diesel continuing to be supplied,” the minister said. He also warned that Washington's position could change under a future administration, since US presidents are not bound by the decisions of their predecessors.

Kremlin on a meeting with Putin

Earlier, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Moscow hopes for an early meeting between Witkoff and Kushner and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to him, the envoys are expected to brief Putin on their contacts with Ukrainian and European representatives and to continue discussions between Moscow and Washington. Peskov called the envoys' meetings with Putin “important, timely and substantive,” adding that Moscow highly values their mediation efforts.

Zelensky on a trilateral meeting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky separately said that Witkoff will travel to Russia on Wednesday to convey proposals aimed at advancing peace efforts, including the possibility of a trilateral meeting of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia and the US. “We have clear ideas on how to achieve peace. We are united on this with our European partners, and we want the Americans to convey these ideas to the Russians,” he said after a meeting with the American envoys and leaders of Nordic countries in Oslo. “One of the important ideas is to move toward a potential trilateral meeting of leaders to resolve issues that only leaders can resolve,” he added.