The conflict in Ukraine is reaching a critical point as calls for negotiations grow, but there are concerns about the effectiveness of negotiations with Russia and the lack of clear war aims from Western allies.
Ukraine's former defense minister warns that negotiations with Russia won't bring peace as Putin aims to destroy Ukraine and assimilate its citizens into the Russian Federation, emphasizing the need for international support to prevent world war III.
Officials at the G20 summit expressed a desire for "just and durable peace" in Ukraine, but Russia successfully watered down a statement on the war, avoiding any mention of its military action "against Ukraine."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed diplomatic victory at the G20 summit in India, stating that they were able to prevent any direct criticism of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and that the text of the summit does not mention Russia at all.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for Ukraine to cancel the ban on negotiations imposed by President Zelensky, emphasizing the need for dialogue and suggesting that talks could be a way for Ukraine to replenish their reserves and reinvigorate their army.
Ukraine's military offensive against Russian forces in the south and east has made limited progress, prompting discussions about whether the US and other Western countries should provide more powerful weapons or seek a negotiated settlement.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will participate in a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also be present, but the potential results are seen as minimal according to the Russian representative to the UN.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented on the US government's intention to provide Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles, stating that it will not change the essence of the ongoing conflict, as he believes Ukraine is being prepared to fight for the strategic defeat of Russia.
Ukraine's new defense minister has dismissed seven key officials and plans to sue Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia for refusing to lift a temporary export ban on Ukrainian agricultural products, while the Russian government claims to have no information on the health of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and China's top diplomat is set to discuss the war in Ukraine with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Biden warns against Russia brutalizing Ukraine without consequences, emphasizing US support for Ukraine and its efforts for a diplomatic resolution; he also urges the UN to uphold the UN Charter in addressing the Russian invasion.
On September 22, 2021, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov avoided a face-off at the U.N. Security Council, highlighting the U.N.'s role as a venue for diplomatic disputes and the reputation of adversaries talking past each other.
Ukrainian President Zelensky calls for a united front against Russian aggression in his speech at the UN General Assembly and asks former President Trump to share his peace plans, claiming that Trump could get a "fair deal" with Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized the United States and Europe for their approach to developing countries and denied the realism of a recent proposal to revive the Black Sea grain deal, while also expressing skepticism of Ukraine's 10-point peace plan and suggesting that the conflict would be resolved on the battlefield.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated that while Russia is open to negotiations regarding Ukraine, it will not consider any proposals for a cease-fire as it believes it has been deceived before, and suggests that the issue will ultimately be resolved on the battlefield; Lavrov also criticizes the West for allegedly disregarding the seriousness of the conflict and accuses them of failing to fulfill obligations and negotiate in good faith.
Russia's top diplomat, Sergei Lavrov, accused Armenian leaders of worsening tensions in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but expressed hope that Armenia would remain aligned with Russia and friendly regional states rather than outside influences.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed Ukrainian proposals for restoring pre-invasion territory as "unrealizable" and indicated readiness for war if Ukraine's allies desire it, aligning with the belief that the conflict will persist for years.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine based on the 1991 Declaration of Independence, despite Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and ongoing tensions between the two countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the United States for providing Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles, calling it a mistake that deepens the conflict and prolongs the agony for Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the United States for providing Ukraine with ATACMS long-range missiles, stating that it was a "great mistake" and poses an additional threat to Russian forces, although he believes his military can repel these strikes.
Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy disagrees with likening the Russia-Ukraine war to the war between Israel and Hamas, stating that it is an attempt to avoid debate on the merits of each conflict and criticizing President Biden's $100 billion emergency aid package.
