Lavrov says Russia will not halt its invasion of Ukraine during peace talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the state news outlet Vesti on Sept. 12 that Moscow will not pause its full-scale invasion of Ukraine while peace negotiations are conducted. He said Russia remains "ready for negotiations, but the war against Ukraine will not be stopped during this period," and referenced past brief truces that were later broken.

Lavrov also dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's suggestion of a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the December G20 summit in Miami, reiterating the Kremlin's position that any such talks must take place in Moscow. "An invitation was sent to Zelensky. If he wants to meet, then he should come," Lavrov said, citing Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

The minister claimed the Kremlin was showing "goodwill" by keeping diplomatic channels open, despite Zelensky's decree banning contacts with Putin and his team. He suggested that Ukraine lacked good intentions, while Russia was not lacking in goodwill.

Zelensky has repeatedly offered to meet Putin in a third country but has ruled out Moscow as a venue, and Kyiv has said any negotiations should occur alongside a cessation of hostilities, offering an unconditional ceasefire if Russia agrees. Lavrov's remarks came as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner made a renewed push to restart talks, though no breakthrough was reported.