Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's doubts about the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Zelenski, stressing that all issues must be resolved before a meeting with Putin.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated his skepticism about the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Zelenski, saying that for a meeting with Putin, all issues need to be resolved. Lavrov also emphasized that Russia wants security guarantees for Ukraine based on the 2022 talks, but rejected the idea of a European troop presence. Zelenski has demanded a US reaction if Russia is not open to talks, and experts warn that Russia has no reason to stop the war, using negotiations as a delaying tactic.