Russia Seeks Western Guarantees Ahead Trump-Putin Summit

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has demanded clear guarantees from the West that the upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will yield concrete results, highlighting Moscow's readiness to finalize agreements based on proposals discussed in previous encounters. Lavrov expressed hope that Trump seeks a peaceful resolution rather than escalating arms supplies to Ukraine but emphasized that Moscow will not agree to a ceasefire until the root causes of the conflict are addressed. Additionally, Lavrov stated Russia's willingness to offer non-aggression guarantees to NATO and EU countries, reiterating that Russia has no intention to attack current members, though meaningful dialogue with the West remains difficult due to disagreements over collective security guarantees. The statements come amid ongoing tensions and efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine, with Russia accusing the West of silence following its testing of a nuclear-capable missile and criticizing Western sanctions. While Trump initially planned a second summit with Putin, the meeting was postponed and remains uncertain, with both sides awaiting confirmations and clarity on peace proposals. These developments underscore the fragile and complex nature of negotiations and security dynamics between Russia, the U.S., and European powers.