Russian Foreign Minister Says There Is No More Misunderstanding With The United States About Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (Twitter/@mfa_russia)

JAKARTA - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday all "misunderstandings" with the United States regarding Ukraine had been resolved following a meeting earlier this month between President Vladimir Putin and US Envoy Steve Witkoff.

The Kremlin praised the December 2 meeting which was also attended by President Donald Trump's son-in-law as "constructive," although no major breakthroughs were made to resolve Ukraine's war.

Foreign Minister Lavrov said the talks had confirmed "a common understanding" reached between President Putin and President Trump at a summit in Alaska in August.

"Now, here, in our negotiations with America over the Ukraine issue, I personally believe that misunderstandings and miscommunications have been resolved," Foreign Minister Lavrov told Al Arabiya of Reuters (12/12).

Foreign Minister Lavrov said Russia wanted a package of agreed documents to support Ukraine's long-term and sustainable peace agreement, with security guarantees for all parties involved.

"We have submitted to our American counterparts additional proposals regarding collective security guarantees," said Foreign Minister Lavrov.

"We understand that when discussing security guarantees, we can't limit ourselves to Ukraine alone," he said.

Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated that Russia will not accept the membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for Ukraine and Moscow wants protection for Russian speakers in Ukraine.