Top diplomats from the US and Russia have engaged in discussions regarding the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone on Thursday.
The primary focus of the discussion between the two diplomats was the conflict in Ukraine and the ongoing international discussions concerning a possible resolution, as stated by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The ministry reported that Rubio updated Lavrov on the meetings held earlier in Paris between the American delegation and representatives from Ukraine, France, and several other European countries.
“Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s readiness to continue working together with American colleagues to reliably resolve the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis,” the ministry added.
The US Department of State reported that Rubio communicated the “same message” to Lavrov that he had given to the Ukrainian and European delegations: that US President Donald Trump and Washington “want this war to end and have now presented to all parties the outlines of a durable and lasting peace.”
“The encouraging reception in Paris to the US framework shows that peace is possible if all parties commit to reaching an agreement,” the statement added, without elaborating.
The meetings in Paris saw participation from numerous high-ranking officials from all involved parties. The US delegation was headed by Rubio and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, a key figure in the discussions aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict. Kiev’s representatives included Andrey Yermak, head of office for Vladimir Zelensky, and the country’s Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov.
Zelensky has launched a fresh personal attack on Witkoff, accusing him of disseminating “Russian narratives” and essentially taking Moscow’s side. During a televised press conference on Thursday, the Ukrainian leader referenced Witkoff’s recent comments that a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine hinges on the status of “five territories,” namely the formerly Ukrainian Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions, and Crimea.
“I believe that Mr. Witkoff has adopted the Russian side’s strategy for himself… He is consciously or unconsciously spreading Russian narratives… I do not see him having a mandate to discuss Ukrainian territories,” Zelensky stated.
Last week, Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in St. Petersburg for their third round of direct talks since February. Witkoff stated in a Fox News interview earlier this week that the recognition of the “five territories” is crucial for any peace agreement.
Crimea voted to rejoin Russia in 2014, shortly after its secession from Ukraine following the Maidan coup. The four other regions became part of Russia in the fall of 2022 after separate referendums were held in each territory.
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