Lavrov rules out concessions as US envoy arrives in Moscow for Putin talks 

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - MOSCOW — Russia on Tuesday ruled out making political concessions to Washington ahead of talks between President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff, signaling that Moscow remains unwilling to soften its negotiating position despite renewed American efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Witkoff arrived in Saint Petersburg to meet Vladimir Putin, following what US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as "positive" talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo on Tuesday.

Speaking at a meeting with university graduates who recently joined Russia’s diplomatic service, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would consider proposals from US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner but would make no political concessions.

“We shall see what they propose. If they offer something that is economically and financially advantageous to us, then why not?” he said.

However, he stressed that any potential agreement must not involve political concessions or expectations of political favors in international affairs. “We must rely solely on ourselves,” he added.

His comments underscore the difficulties facing the latest diplomatic initiative, which comes after US President Donald Trump reached a diesel agreement with Putin and criticised the impact of Ukrainian strikes on Russia's energy sector on global fuel prices.

Lavrov also cautioned against expecting a fundamental change in US-Russian relations under Trump, describing the United States as "at best a competitor" and warning that future American administrations could reverse any economic concessions.

Referring to Trump’s decision to waive key Russia-related sanctions, Lavrov said the US president had not abandoned the tariff measure but had indicated that imposing sweeping duties was not in Washington’s interests at the current stage.

“What they need right now is to ensure that global energy markets don’t spiral into a deep crisis ahead of the elections. And so, they are fine with Russian diesel fuel continuing to be supplied,” he said.

Lavrov warned that Washington’s position could change under a future administration, noting that US presidents are not bound by their predecessors’ decisions.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow hoped Witkoff and Kushner would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future.

Peskov said the Kremlin expected the US envoys to brief Putin on their contacts with Ukrainian and European representatives and continue discussions between Moscow and Washington.

He described the envoys’ meetings with Putin as “important, timely and substantive,” adding that Moscow highly valued their mediation efforts.

Peskov also acknowledged that a comprehensive settlement could not be reached without Ukraine's participation, even as Moscow prepares to discuss the latest proposals directly with Washington.

"Of course, it is impossible to fully resolve the Ukrainian issue without someone from Kyiv being present," he said, adding that someone in the Ukrainian leadership would have to take what he described as a responsible decision.

The Kremlin spokesman also cast doubt on the contribution Finnish President Alexander Stubb could make to the diplomatic process, suggesting that merely repeating the broader European position on Ukraine would do little to advance negotiations.

Stubb took part in Tuesday's talks in Oslo alongside Zelensky, Witkoff and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, with discussions focusing on proposals for ending the war and possible security guarantees for Ukraine.