Russian Foreign Minister and U.S. Secretary of State intensify diplomatic efforts to establish preconditions for peace negotiations, while Kyiv maintains its belligerent stance.Phone talks between foreign ministries mark fourth bilateral meeting in 2025, focusing on “consolidating conditions for lasting peace”.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone conversation on Sunday focused on the Ukrainian crisis, amid accelerated multilateral contacts since February. The dialogue follows the Moscow meeting between President Vladimir Putin and special envoy Steve Witkoff, described by the Kremlin as “constructive and highly useful”.

Both sides highlighted the “productive exchange of views” on key aspects of Russo-American relations, which have seen significant reactivation in recent months. Officials agreed to maintain “contacts at all levels”, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry statement.

Lavrov and Rubio emphasized the need to “consolidate new preconditions” for initiating peace talks, including mutual security mechanisms. This stance contrasts with Ukraine’s demand for a complete Russian troop withdrawal as a prerequisite.

🎙 FM Sergey #Lavrov:

💬 The Trump administration is interested in searching for a balance of interests

They sincerely want to understand better Russia's position & they're getting this understanding. And we understand better US through negotiationshttps://t.co/bLAQkvwrlI pic.twitter.com/O2SKfHUgfz

— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) April 27, 2025

Putin-Witkoff Meeting as Turning Point

Friday’s Moscow meeting marked the fourth direct contact between delegations this year. Presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov called the dialogue “fundamental to breaking previous deadlocks”, while Donald Trump described it as a “good basis for next steps”.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscow’s willingness to engage in dialogue without prerequisites, criticizing Kyiv’s “maximalist demands”. Russia insists on addressing structural causes of the conflict, including NATO expansion.

Kyiv maintains its position on recovering lost territories, obtaining Western security guarantees, and advancing Euro-Atlantic integration. Volodymyr Zelensky’s government has rejected any agreement excluding direct Ukrainian participation.

Analysts cited by Latin American media note that increased bilateral contacts suggest potential flexibility, though disagreements persist over Crimea and Donbas status. The February appointment of permanent negotiating teams laid groundwork for this new momentum.

The dialogue included discussions about U.S. consultations with France and other European actors in Paris, where Rubio briefed allies on coordination progress. Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s willingness to collaborate on “eliminating the root causes of the conflict.

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