Lavrov: Trump Understands Root Causes of Ukraine Conflict Unlike Other Western Leaders

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that U.S. President Donald Trump, unlike other Western leaders, shows an understanding of the need to address the root causes of the Ukrainian conflict. Speaking on Thursday, Lavrov stressed that Moscow is ready to seek compromises on Ukraine as long as Russia’s legitimate security interests are respected.

According to Lavrov, Washington and Moscow both want to maintain the dialogue established between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. He explained that Trump’s frustration with the pace of settlement efforts stems from his preference for quick solutions, though such approaches are not always viable. After the Alaska summit, Lavrov noted, Trump shifted from pressing for a ceasefire ultimatum to supporting a long-term settlement approach—a stance the U.S. continues to uphold.

Lavrov added that Trump recognized Ukraine’s NATO ambitions must be abandoned for any real progress, and that his envoy, Steven Witkoff, is working to balance the interests of all parties. He underlined that U.S. officials also acknowledge the situation on the ground is not about “carving off” territory. Meanwhile, Lavrov criticized global financial institutions, noting that over the past three years the World Bank has given Ukraine dozens of times more in loans than it has allocated to all African states combined.