&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "‘Road to nowhere’: Russia slams security discussions with Trump on Ukraine without Moscow")
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday (Aug 20) warned that discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine without involving Russia were a “road to nowhere”. He further slammed the European leaders for making “clumsy attempts” to change US President Donald Trump’s position on Ukraine, accusing the bloc of trying to “aggressively escalate” the situation. He added that the Europeans did not put forth any “constructive” ideas in their recent meeting with Trump.
This comes as NATO military chiefs on Wednesday (Aug 20) were set to hold discussions on details of eventual security guarantees for Ukraine amid recent efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Also read | Trump says 'better' if Zelensky-Putin talks happen one-on-one, without him — but will he crash the meeting?
“The West understands perfectly well that seriously discussing security guarantees without the Russian Federation is a utopia, a road to nowhere,” Lavrov told reporters on Wednesday. “We cannot agree that it is now suggested to solve collective security issues without the Russian Federation”
‘Clumsy attempts’ by Europe
“We have only seen aggressive escalation of the situation and rather clumsy attempts to change the position of the US president,” Lavrov said, referring to the meeting between Trump, European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that happened at the White House on Monday (Aug 18).
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How the S-400 uses multiple radar trucks to scan the sky at once
)
Russia-Ukraine war: Kremlin claims more than 370 drones target Moscow region overnight
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How the S-400 tracks multiple targets at once
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
From The Odyssey to Troy: 5 movies based on the legendary Trojan War on OTT platforms
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian aircraft use flexible refuelling hoses compared to US refuelling booms
)
Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine hits Russian cities with 370 drones
)
'Works in Gaza': Who is Sonam Wangchuk's Danish funder that also operates in Palestine and other global conflict zones
)
Magnitude 5 earthquake strikes Iran as military escalation with US continues
)
Sonam Wangchuk's connection with George Soros and Ford Foundation explained!
)
72nd National Film Awards: Yami Gautam wins Best Actress; Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty share Best Actor honour
)
BTS at FIFA 2026: Check the halftime show timings for India and across the world
)
'George Soros playbook': Understanding the foreign funding network around Sonam Wangchuk
)
Pakistan joins Miss World for the first time in 74 years: Why the delay and what it means now
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (July 17, 2026): Maa Inti Bangaaram, The East Palace, Desire- 5 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, JioHotstar and more
)
Older than Himalayas: 85mn-year-old Kewra plant reached India 24mn years ago, fossil discovery in Assam shows
)
Libya joins China's payment system to reduce dependence on the US dollar
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian fighter jets mount nose camera balls compared to US jets
)
Don't know what The Odyssey is? Here's the ancient Greek myth explained simply
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Every launch comes at a price': Why firing an S-400 missile is so expensive
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why F-22 Radar Absorbent Material (RAM) requires constant inspection
)
Americans need to prove they are American citizens to visit a national park in US
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
FIFA World Cup 2026 awards race: Who are Golden Boot, Golden Ball and Golden Glove contenders ahead of the final
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian strike fighters seat pilots side-by-side compared to US jets
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Global air power ranking 2026: India surpasses China
)
UK court denies bail to Indian merchant navy captain held in Russian oil tanker case
)
25km meteor crater in rugged Canadian terrain remained hidden for 390 million years
)
Putin's mysterious Tu-214PU 'Doomsday plane' lands in Iran as US-Iran conflict spirals
)
Maharashtra man kills ex-girlfriend, reveals chilling details in call with woman's fiancé, later found dead
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the F-22’s tail fins are canted to minimize its radar footprint
)
Imran Khan's sister links India-Pakistan 2025 conflict to Israel recognition plans
)
'What is wrong...': Anna Hazare breaks silence on Sonam Wangchuk's protest, makes an appeal to Centre
“We did not hear any constructive ideas from the Europeans there,” he added.
This comes following the recent diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine, including the meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 and Trump’s meeting with Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on Monday (Aug 18).
Putin-Zelensky talks ‘must be prepared ‘meticulously’
Following the discussions, Putin agreed to meet with Zelensky and accept some Western security guarantees for Ukraine.
Lavrov also said that any talks between Putin and Zelensky “must be prepared in the most meticulous way” so the meeting does not lead to a “deterioration” of the situation around the conflict.
Watch | Russia-Ukraine war: Russia pounds Ukraine’s Sumy, Odesa under heavy drone strikes
