Russia Holds Strategic Initiative in Ukraine, Lavrov Says

Reuters

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said the West must recognise that Russia holds the strategic initiative in Ukraine as discussions continue over a possible political settlement.

In a wide-ranging interview with the state news agency RIA, published late on Monday, Lavrov said Ukraine and its Western allies would have to accept what he described as the “realities on the ground” as the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches.

“Our principled position remains unchanged. The strategic initiative rests wholly with the Russian army, and the West understands this,” Lavrov said.

He noted that Russia currently controls around 19 per cent of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, annexed in 2014, and four regions Moscow claims to have incorporated since the start of the war in 2022. On Monday, President Vladimir Putin instructed Russian forces to continue their offensive aimed at gaining full control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.

Lavrov also said Moscow was awaiting a response from the United States to Putin’s proposal, made in September, to extend for one year the qualitative limits of the New START strategic arms treaty.

Negotiations over Ukraine have been under way for several months, though major issues—particularly territorial questions—remain unresolved. The latest talks included a meeting on Sunday between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in the United States.

Earlier on Monday, Lavrov said Russia would adjust its negotiating stance, though not withdraw from talks, following what Moscow described as a Ukrainian attack on Putin’s residence in northern Russia—an allegation Kyiv has denied.

Lavrov told RIA that the United States supports the idea of holding new elections in Ukraine following the expiry of President Zelenskiy’s term. He described Washington as playing an active mediating role, citing ongoing telephone contacts between US and Russian officials.

He reiterated that any settlement would require Ukraine to abandon aspirations of joining NATO and adopt a neutral, non-aligned status.

Beyond Ukraine, Lavrov stressed that relations between Russia and the United States should not be limited to the conflict alone. He said both countries, as major nuclear powers and permanent members of the UN Security Council, bear a shared responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.

“Until the treaty expires, it is logical to give the American side the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive review of President Putin’s initiative to freeze, on a voluntary basis, the qualitative limits of the New START treaty for one year,” Lavrov said.

Source: Reuters



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