“Russia demands an end to Western arms supplies to Ukraine in order to halt the fighting”, – Lavrov

Moscow is maintaining its demand that Western military assistance to Ukraine must stop in order to achieve a ceasefire.

This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in an interview with CBS News.

“We want guarantees that a ceasefire will not once again be used to strengthen the Ukrainian army, and that arms supplies must stop,” the Russian minister said in response to a question about why Moscow is refusing a truce, even though Kyiv has already agreed to it.

Lavrov added that such a demand from the Kremlin stems from “lessons we have learned at least three times when deals similar to the one we are discussing now were made” (apparently referring to the Minsk agreements and attempts to negotiate peace in the spring of 2022).

“If you want to establish a ceasefire and at the same time continue supplying weapons to Ukraine, then what is your objective?” Lavrov asked.

It is worth recalling that Russia had set the condition of halting military aid already a month ago. The Kremlin’s second demand was to stop the ongoing mobilization in Ukraine. Kyiv rejected both demands — President Volodymyr Zelensky insists on a ceasefire without any preconditions.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a plan linking the cessation of hostilities to lifting sanctions against Russia, as well as recognizing Moscow’s claims to Crimea. Ukraine has rejected this plan.