Lavrov to attend Ukraine roundtable, says words against Kyiv not enough

On 18 June 2026, Lavrov made a series of statements on Ukraine and Europe. TASS reported that he will take part on 23 June in a roundtable on Ukraine for the diplomatic corps, and RIA Novosti quoted him saying that words about Kyiv’s terrorist actions are no longer enough. He said the ambassadors of Britain, France and Germany came to the Russian foreign ministry in connection with an ultimatum.

Lavrov said Europe’s real objective is not to negotiate with Russia but to save Zelensky’s leadership, and that Europe wants to freeze the conflict in order to deploy its military contingents. He said Paris’s plan to share a “nuclear umbrella” would do nothing to strengthen security. He also said Turkey confirmed its readiness to provide a platform for negotiations, and that Russia prefers to pursue the goals of what it calls its special military operation through diplomacy.