Lavrov: Russia will hear out Witkoff and Kushner but will not make concessions

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow is ready to consider proposals from American special representatives at upcoming talks, but ruled out any political concessions on Russia’s part.

He made the statement at a meeting with university graduates who had been accepted into the diplomatic service.

“US President’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner came and tried to ‘arrange’ something for us. We’ll see what they propose. If they propose something that is economically and financially beneficial to us, then why not? But this must be done without any political concessions on our part and without expecting political goodwill that will ‘carry’ us in all world affairs,” Lavrov said.

The visit of Trump’s special representatives — Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner — to St. Petersburg is expected in the coming days.

Earlier, ahead of the talks in Oslo, The New York Times reported that US authorities intend to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to a peace deal with Russia on Russia’s terms, including territorial concessions. In return, Ukraine is being promised economic benefits.