Russia is open to collaborating with Donald Trump‘s forthcoming administration to enhance bilateral relations, provided the U.S. demonstrates genuine intentions to do so. However, according to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the initiative must come from Washington.

As Trump prepares to assume the presidency again on January 20, he presents himself as a skilled negotiator and has pledged to quickly resolve the conflict in Ukraine, although he has not detailed his strategy for achieving this, aside from encouraging dialogue between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Keith Kellogg, Trump’s appointed envoy for Ukraine, stated on Fox News on December 18 that both parties are prepared for peace negotiations and that Trump is ideally positioned to broker a resolution to the conflict.

Lavrov remarked to reporters in Moscow, “If the new administration in Washington sends serious signals to restore the dialogue that was interrupted following the onset of the special military operation in Ukraine, we will certainly respond.”

He emphasized, however, that since the U.S. had previously halted discussions, it is now their responsibility to take the first step. Lavrov, who has served as Putin’s foreign minister for over two decades, noted the significant consequences of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in numerous casualties, the displacement of millions, and a profound deterioration in relations between Moscow and the West, reminiscent of the tensions during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

U.S. officials have characterized Russia as a corrupt autocracy, identifying it as the primary nation-state threat to the United States, citing its interference in U.S. elections, wrongful imprisonment of American citizens, and sabotage efforts against U.S. allies.

Russian officials assert that the United States is experiencing a decline in power, having consistently overlooked Russia’s interests since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. They claim the U.S. has also fostered internal discord within Russia to fragment its society and advance American objectives.

PEACE IN UKRAINE

According to a report from Reuters last month, President Putin is willing to engage in discussions regarding a ceasefire in Ukraine with Trump, but he firmly rejects any significant territorial concessions and demands that Kyiv relinquish its aspirations to join NATO. Currently, Russia occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that Russia sees no value in a fragile ceasefire that merely pauses the conflict. Instead, Moscow seeks a legally binding agreement that would establish a durable peace, ensuring the security of both Russia and its neighboring countries. “A truce leads to nowhere,” Lavrov remarked.

He emphasized the necessity for definitive legal agreements that would outline all conditions necessary for safeguarding the Russian Federation and the legitimate security interests of its neighbors. Lavrov further noted that Moscow desires these legal documents to be structured in a manner that guarantees “the impossibility of violating these agreements.” Putin has criticized the West, particularly the United States, for disregarding Russia’s post-Soviet interests, attempting to draw Ukraine into its sphere of influence since 2014, and subsequently using Ukraine as a means to wage a proxy war aimed at undermining and ultimately dismantling Russia.

In 2014, following the ousting of a pro-Russian president during Ukraine’s Maidan Revolution, which sought to foster closer relations with the West, Russia annexed Crimea and initiated military assistance to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Western nations characterize Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an imperialistic land acquisition by Moscow, which has bolstered the NATO military alliance while diminishing Russia’s influence.

Ukrainian President Zelenskiy stated on Sunday that NATO membership is “attainable,” but emphasized that Kyiv must actively work to convince its Western allies to support this goal.