Moscow: Russia reiterated Thursday its stance of having no "aggressive plans" against NATO or EU members, emphasizing its readiness to guarantee this in writing. 'We have no aggressive plans, as President (Vladimir Putin) has clearly stated, against either NATO or EU members. We are prepared to formalize the corresponding guarantees in writing, in a legal document. Naturally, on a collective, reciprocal basis,' Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said while addressing a roundtable discussion in Moscow with ambassadors and representatives of international organizations.
According to Anadolu Agency, Lavrov mentioned recent discussions between Putin and US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow that resolved various misunderstandings between the two countries post the Alaska summit in August. Lavrov indicated that the discussions with Washington have progressed, with Russia offering additional proposals regarding collective security guarantees.
Lavrov stressed that security guarantee discussions should not be limited to Ukraine alone. He expressed Russia's willingness to consider collective proposals that would result in legally binding agreements, aiming to prevent successive crises. He accused Western countries of leveraging the Russia-Ukraine conflict to divert attention from other global issues, such as Palestine.
Lavrov criticized the ongoing conversations between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Western partners, suggesting that they focus only on Ukraine's security while potentially preparing for further aggression against Russia. He noted Zelenskyy's interactions with European leaders, asserting they undermine Trump's efforts. Lavrov cautioned that Europe's militaristic stance might hinder negotiations.
Addressing the situation in Sudan, Lavrov urged for dialogue between the transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and opposition forces, offering Russia's assistance in finding practical solutions. Lavrov also expressed concerns over US operations against Venezuela, which he described as problematic, and called on Washington to provide solid evidence for its actions in the Caribbean while advocating for legal resolution methods.