Thread by @Mylovanov

Lavrov: We see a clearer understanding in the U.S. that the roots of the crisis must be addressed, rather than repeating slogans about an immediate ceasefire while pumping Ukraine with weapons, as Macron proposed. 1/

Lavrov: It’s good that these absolutely reckless and confrontational positions in favor of prolonging the war find no support in the current U.S. administration.

Which seeks to get to the essence of the problem and eliminate the root causes. 2/

Lavrov: As for reports that the UK, France, and Germany want to develop collective security guarantees — we support such guarantees if they are truly reliable.

A good example is the Ukrainian initiative in Istanbul in April 2022. 3/

Lavrov: Ukrainian delegation then proposed core principles to end hostilities and secure a stable settlement:

1. Ukraine renounces NATO or any other military blocs.
2. Ukraine confirms neutral and non-nuclear status. 4/

Lavrov: Ukraine proposed — and our delegation agreed — to design security guarantees with all permanent UN Security Council members: Russia, China, the U.S., France, Britain, and others like Germany and Turkey. 5/

Lavrov: That proposal meant guarantees would be equal.

Security of all sides, including Ukraine’s neighbors, would be ensured on a fair, balanced, and indivisible basis. 6/

Lavrov: Russia supported this and was ready to proceed.

The draft was initialed, and we were ready to sign a formal treaty. 7/

Lavrov: But Boris Johnson, then UK PM, came to Kyiv and forbade his protégés from signing anything, demanding continuation of the war.

Without that, much could already have been achieved for a lasting settlement. 8/

Lavrov: We cannot accept attempts to design collective security without Russia. That will not work.

Russia is not inflating its demands, but we will defend our legitimate interests firmly. 9/

Lavrov: The West, above all the U.S., understands perfectly well that serious talks on security without Russia are a dead end. 10X