At the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in southern Turkey, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commended U.S. President Donald Trump for his deep understanding of the Ukraine conflict, which he believes surpasses that of other Western leaders. Lavrov emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of conflicts in order to achieve lasting peace. Specifically, he highlighted President Trump’s stance on Ukraine’s potential NATO membership as a significant root cause of the conflict. Lavrov’s remarks came after discussions in St. Petersburg between President Putin and Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, regarding efforts to reach a peace agreement. While Witkoff has played a crucial role in facilitating dialogue between Moscow and Washington, recent talks have hit a snag over disagreements on conditions for a ceasefire. Lavrov also mentioned ongoing attacks by Ukraine on Russian energy infrastructure, accusing Kyiv of violating agreements to halt strikes. Although both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of such actions, efforts to establish a ceasefire and work towards peace continue amid diplomatic efforts between the United States, Russia, and other international partners.
