©Sputnik/Sergey Guneev
The Russian Foreign Ministry has pushed back against Western media reports claiming Moscow undermined Ukraine peace talks with the US by insisting it must take part in discussions about security guarantees for Kiev.
On Friday, Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that remarks by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about the principles of “indivisible security” in Europe have “effectively fractured Russia’s talks with the US,” while describing Moscow’s stance as “an attempt to stall the [settlement] process.” The Wall Street Journal similarly accused Lavrov of “toss[ing] all sorts of obstacles” in the way of possible high-level talks between Moscow and Kiev.
The ministry responded that Russia has followed a consistent policy on the conditions needed both to resolve the Ukraine conflict and to build a stable European security framework.
The ministry recalled that following the Alaska summit with US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that a sustainable peace in Ukraine could be achieved only if “all root causes of the crisis are eliminated, all of Russia’s legitimate concerns taken into account, and a just balance in security in Europe and worldwide restored.”
He added at the time that Moscow “was ready to work on ensuring security for Ukraine.”
Later, Lavrov, responding to a question about the possible deployment of Western troops to Ukraine – which has been a red line for Moscow – noted that Russia “will firmly and strictly ensure our legitimate interests.” “Any serious discussion of security issues without Russia is a utopia.. [and] a road to nowhere,” he added.
“So how can anyone consider Lavrov’s words as ‘undermining’ the settlement process? On the contrary, Russia’s position is marked by consistency, and the minister’s statements confirm the points repeatedly voiced by President Putin on the Ukraine crisis,” the ministry noted.
Russia has repeatedly said that the Ukraine conflict can only be settled if Kiev commits to neutrality, demilitarization, denazification, and recognizes the new territorial reality on the ground.
Putin - Russia still working with Western scientists despite sanctions
Russia has continued to work with Western scientists despite sanctions and political obstacles, President Vladimir Putin has said.
Speaking to workers in Russia’s nuclear sector in the town of Sarov on Friday, Putin noted that the global scientific community cannot be destroyed because it is rooted in unity, not disengagement. He stressed that scientific progress has always relied on cooperation – even during the height of the nuclear arms race.
©Sputnik/Evgeny Biyatov
“Science, like sports and art, is meant to unite people. It has always been this way, and it will always be this way. No one will be able to destroy the global scientific community,” Putin stated. The West imposed extensive sanctions on Russia in light of the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. As a result, many former partners severed ties and exited the country. Still, Putin noted that a number of joint projects – including in nuclear and space sectors – have continued with both “friendly” nations and some that are aligned with Kiev.
“By the way, we don’t have unfriendly countries – only unfriendly elites in some... Yes, we’ve suffered in places where cooperation has ceased, especially in science, but work with scientists themselves continues.”
The president said Russia lost only Finland among its Western science partners, while, for example, in Hungary Rosatom is still working on a key nuclear project in partnership with French and German firms, despite all three being NATO members.
“What we did in so-called unfriendly countries, we continue doing. We still supply nuclear fuel in decent quantities and offer nearly the same volume of services,” Putin said. “New areas are emerging too, especially in nuclear medicine and related fields. As for those leaving due to political pressure, I’m sure they’ll return.”
Putin earlier warned of the long-term harm caused by blocking the development of scientific and educational ties. “We hope Western politicians will understand the damage done by limiting cooperation in science and education,” he said at a Future Technologies Forum. “We’re not going to erect barriers to partnership with Western scientists.”
Despite the sanctions, one major area of continued cooperation is space. Last month, Russia and the US extended joint work on the International Space Station (ISS). Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov also met NASA acting head Sean Duffy in Houston to discuss ISS operations, future lunar missions, and deep-space exploration projects.
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