At the recent Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace proposals, calling them “foolish” and labelling Ukraine’s “Victory Plan” as “schizophrenic.”
Lavrov’s remarks indicated a refusal to consider negotiations aimed at a compromise with Ukraine, reiterating Russia’s insistence on the annexation of Ukrainian territory as a non-negotiable condition for any potential settlement. This stance remains consistent with Russian demands from the outset of its invasion in February 2022.
Lavrov rejected Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s suggestion that the war could end in a “draw,” arguing instead that Russia’s objectives extend beyond such an outcome. Lavrov’s comments referenced President Vladimir Putin’s earlier proposals made in January 2022, which sought security guarantees for Russia, including the exclusion of former Soviet states from NATO and the removal of advanced weaponry from Eastern European NATO member territories.
These demands were dismissed as unrealistic by both the United States and NATO countries, who viewed them as infringing on the sovereignty of nations like Ukraine and Georgia.
The conference in Minsk saw Lavrov aligning his remarks with Moscow’s longstanding view that Russia’s security depends on limiting NATO influence in Eastern Europe. Western calls for negotiations, Lavrov’s statements suggested, are unlikely to yield results in the near future, as Moscow’s conditions effectively require Ukraine’s surrender.
Lavrov’s words signalled that any form of settlement would be contingent on Ukraine ceding control of its territory to Russia, consistent with Putin’s declared objectives from the beginning of the conflict.
Lavrov’s comments have raised questions about the viability of diplomatic initiatives endorsed by some Western policymakers who continue to advocate for a negotiated settlement.
Russia’s position reflects a broader geopolitical ambition to reassert its influence over former Soviet territories, with Moscow maintaining that its stance is necessary to prevent perceived Western encroachment. For Russia, the conflict with Ukraine has become an emblematic struggle with the West, and its objectives go beyond Ukraine to include a broader reconfiguration of European security arrangements.
The Minsk conference itself, orchestrated by Lukashenko, highlighted Russia’s attempts to establish alternative forums after its exclusion from major international gatherings, including the Munich Security Conference. With Russian leaders now largely isolated on the global stage, Moscow has been creating new platforms to voice its perspectives.
Lavrov’s appearance alongside Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, who voiced hopes that the European Union would not object to his attendance, highlighted Moscow’s strategy of deepening divisions within the EU on its stance toward Russia.
Belarus’s participation in the conference added another dimension, with Lukashenko positioning his country as a potential mediator. However, Belarus’s direct involvement in the war, allowing its territory to serve as a staging ground for Russian military operations, calls into question its neutrality. Lukashenko’s portrayal of Belarus as an intermediary appears intended to boost Belarus’s international standing rather than to offer a feasible path to peace.
Lavrov’s characterisation of Ukrainian and Western actions as “schizophrenic” aligns with the broader Russian narrative, which frames Moscow’s policies as a defensive response to Western interference. Domestically, this rhetoric has been reinforced by public support, largely shaped by nationalist messaging promoted by the Kremlin.
Lavrov’s comments indicate Moscow’s view of any engagement with the West as inherently oppositional, presenting Russia as a nation safeguarding its sovereignty against what it perceives as “Western imperialism”.
The event in Minsk appears part of a wider Russian effort to develop an alternative international platform that validates its stance on global issues. By hosting forums that attract sympathetic European political figures, Moscow seeks to strengthen its narrative, challenging the legitimacy of established Western-led institutions. Hungary’s participation, particularly with Szijjártó’s presence, reflects Russia’s efforts to gain traction within Europe, despite the continent’s official stance on the war.
As Moscow persists in establishing its influence through new forums, the prospect of meaningful talks with Ukraine seems increasingly unlikely. Lavrov’s statements suggest that Russian leaders will only entertain negotiations aligned with their strategic goals.
In the absence of significant military or financial obstacles, Moscow appears committed to maintaining its stance on Ukraine, positioning the conflict as a key element of its broader contest with the West.
Lavrov’s address at the Minsk conference has cast doubt on the feasibility of negotiations that do not conform to Russia’s conditions, reinforcing the Kremlin’s portrayal of the Ukraine war as part of a larger struggle with Western powers.
