Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivered a scathing critique of a peace plan reportedly being floated by President-elect Donald Trump’s team to address the ongoing war in Ukraine. Lavrov dismissed the proposal, particularly its suggestion to delay Ukraine’s Nato membership, as fundamentally unacceptable to Moscow.
Speaking at a news conference, Lavrov expressed outrage over the plan, which he claimed sought to suspend hostilities along the line of contact in Ukraine and transfer responsibility for the conflict to European forces, reported New York Post.
“Judging from numerous leaks and Donald Trump’s interview with Time magazine on December 12, their idea is to postpone Ukraine’s admission to Nato for 20 years and deploy British and European peacekeepers in Ukraine,” Lavrov said. “We are not happy with these proposals.”
The criticism comes amid reports that Trump, who has vowed not to abandon Ukraine, is exploring strategies to broker peace while balancing European involvement. Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s pick as special envoy to Ukraine, has suggested leveraging military aid and weapons as bargaining tools to force negotiations.
Lavrov, however, warned that such a plan was a “complete non-starter” for Russia. He reiterated Moscow’s long-standing opposition to Ukraine joining Nato under any circumstances, citing the alliance’s “aggressive absorption” as the rationale behind Russia’s invasion in 2022.
The foreign minister added that the onus was on Trump to initiate talks with Moscow. “Even if he tries to relaunch bilateral ties, he will have to swim against the stream,” Lavrov remarked.
A report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank, underscored Lavrov’s comments as indicative of Russia’s rigid stance. According to the ISW, President Vladimir Putin’s demands include Ukraine’s permanent neutrality, a downsized military, and regime change in Kyiv.
As Trump prepares to take office, navigating Moscow’s hardline position presents a daunting challenge to his promise of ending the war. With Lavrov’s stark rejection, the question remains whether Trump’s team can craft a deal that satisfies all parties—or if the conflict will persist in its current deadlock.