Russia warns Western security guarantees for Ukraine will fail without Moscow’s input

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Russia warned on Wednesday that any Western plan to provide security guarantees for Ukraine without taking Moscow’s interests into account is doomed to fail, as NATO chiefs convened to discuss the issue.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cautioned ahead of the NATO meeting that excluding Moscow from security talks would be counterproductive. “Discussing security guarantees seriously without the Russian Federation is a road to nowhere,” Lavrov said. “We cannot accept that collective security matters be resolved without involving the Russian Federation.”

Lavrov also accused European leaders, several of whom met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington earlier this week, of making “clumsy attempts” to sway Trump’s position on Ukraine. “We have not heard any constructive ideas from the Europeans,” he added.

Speculation about a possible summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was downplayed by Moscow, with Lavrov insisting such a meeting would require meticulous preparation to avoid worsening tensions.

Lavrov said Putin told Trump during a recent call that he was only considering “raising the level” of discussions on Ukraine, stressing that any summit “must be carefully prepared” to prevent deterioration.

French President Emmanuel Macron proposed Geneva as a possible venue, while Putin reportedly suggested Moscow. Zelensky rejected the Russian capital as an option, sources told AFP. Trump has floated the idea of eventually hosting a trilateral meeting if a Putin-Zelensky encounter proves successful.

In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Trump confirmed the United States would consider providing air support as a security guarantee for Ukraine under a potential peace deal with Moscow, but ruled out sending ground troops.

“When it comes to security, the Europeans are ready to put people on the ground,” Trump said, referring to the leaders he hosted at the White House on Monday, including Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Zelensky. His spokeswoman Caroline Levitt reaffirmed: “There will be no American troops on the ground in Ukraine.”

Washington and its European partners have repeatedly insisted that any peace settlement must address Russia’s continued occupation of roughly 20 percent of Ukrainian territory. Moscow has demanded recognition of its control and guarantees for Russian-speaking populations.

Trump, however, urged Zelensky to show “flexibility,” particularly regarding the contested Donbas region.

NATO chiefs met by video conference Wednesday to coordinate on potential security guarantees for Ukraine, part of ongoing allied discussions on how to enforce any future peace settlement with Russia.

On Tuesday, the “coalition of the willing” — a group of about 30 mostly European states backing Ukraine — also convened virtually under the leadership of Starmer and Macron to review progress made in Washington. According to Starmer’s office, European and U.S. planning teams will “continue consultations in the coming days to prepare for the possible deployment of forces to ensure the implementation of any settlement.”

European leaders stressed the urgency of binding guarantees, warning that even a peace agreement might not deter Moscow from renewed aggression. Macron likened Putin to “a predator, a beast at our gates who must continue feeding to survive,” underscoring the threat to Europe.

While diplomatic maneuvering continues, Russia reported battlefield gains in eastern Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday its forces had captured three settlements: Sukhetsky and Bankivka in Donetsk province, and Novohiorhiyivka in the central-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region.

The announcement highlights Moscow’s continued push along the front lines even as discussions intensify over potential peace arrangements and security guarantees for Kyiv.