Kathrine Frich
Analysts see this as a deliberate move to delay talks while continuing the war.
Analysts see this as a deliberate move to delay talks while continuing the war.
Lavrov Questions Zelensky’s Legitimacy
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has declared that Moscow will not recognize Volodymyr Zelensky’s signature on any peace deal.
In an interview with NBC News, Lavrov said that Ukraine’s president is not a “legitimate leader” despite being “the de facto head of the regime.”
His remarks aired on August 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Propaganda Around Ukraine’s Elections
Lavrov’s comments tie into long-running Russian claims that Zelensky’s government has no democratic legitimacy.
Ukraine was due to hold presidential elections in March 2024, but martial law banned voting during the war.
Moscow has used this situation repeatedly to discredit Kyiv’s leadership.
Talks With Trump and Putin Stalled
The interview came just weeks after Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss possible peace terms.
The talks failed to make real progress, with Moscow refusing a ceasefire.
Instead, Russia has continued to press for sweeping territorial concessions.
A New Obstruction Tactic
By dismissing Zelensky as illegitimate, the Kremlin is setting up another roadblock to negotiations.
Analysts see this as a deliberate move to delay talks while continuing the war.
Lavrov accused Zelensky of “pretending to be a leader,” a remark that mirrors Moscow’s propaganda lines.
Security Guarantees Back on the Table
Lavrov also revisited the idea of security guarantees for Ukraine.
He suggested that members of the UN Security Council, along with Germany and Turkey, could act as guarantors.
But he insisted that Ukraine must remain neutral, non-aligned, and non-nuclear.
Russia’s Red Lines on NATO
The Russian minister reiterated that NATO membership for Ukraine is unacceptable.
He said Moscow also demands protection for Russian speakers in Ukraine.
Territorial disputes, Lavrov added, “need to be held with Ukraine,” signaling that Kremlin claims will remain central to any talks.
Echoes of Istanbul Talks in 2022
Lavrov pointed to the failed Istanbul negotiations of 2022 as a model for possible agreements.
At that time, Russia demanded Ukraine’s permanent neutrality in exchange for security guarantees from global powers.
That proposal collapsed, but Lavrov suggested similar conditions could resurface now.
