US President Donald Trump reacted sharply to the words of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Volodymyr Zelensky is not a legitimate person for the possible signing of documents under the Ukrainian agreement.
On Sunday, in an interview with NBC News, Lavrov said that Moscow is ready to meet with Zelensky, but when it comes to signing legal documents, “everyone must have a clear understanding that the signatory party is legitimate“. Lavrov noted that according to the Ukrainian constitution “Zelensky is not one at the moment“.
On Tuesday, at a meeting of the US administration's cabinet at the White House, journalists asked US President's special envoy Steve Witkoff to comment on Lavrov's statement. Instead of Witkoff, Trump himself answered the question.
“Steve could answer, but I can answer. It doesn't matter what they say. Everyone is posing. It's all nonsense“, Trump said. Then the US president asked Witkoff if he had another answer.
“I agree with you“, the special envoy replied.
In June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented initiatives for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine: Moscow will immediately cease fire and declare readiness for negotiations after the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the territory of the so-called new regions of Russia. In addition, the Russian leader added, Kiev must announce its refusal to join NATO, must carry out "demilitarization and denazification", and also accept a neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear status. Putin mentioned in this context the lifting of sanctions against the Russian Federation. The Russian president later noted that Moscow's conditions for the Ukrainian settlement had not changed.