World · Europe · 8 hrs ago
Lavrov says Russia will not accept Zelensky’s promises of a pause
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would not accept promises from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a reason to pause fighting.
He made the remarks in Moscow after talks with Lebanon’s foreign minister.
Lavrov was responding to Zelensky’s reaction to US President Donald Trump’s claim that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy ceasefire.
A White House official said Trump expected Zelensky to follow the ceasefire, but the statements provided no details of an agreement.
Lavrov accused Zelensky of seeking time to restore Ukraine’s strength and receive more weapons; these were Lavrov’s claims.
He said Russia would continue pursuing its stated military objectives.
The remarks show that Moscow is rejecting the idea of a pause, and no next step on an energy ceasefire was specified.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia would not accept promises from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in exchange for a pause in hostilities.
Lavrov said he did not think Zelensky had earned a respite and accused him of seeking time to regain strength.
He was responding to Zelensky’s reaction to US President Donald Trump’s claim that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy ceasefire.
Lavrov said Russia would continue pursuing the objectives of its military operation, which he said had not changed.
- Who
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- What
- Lavrov said Russia would not accept Zelensky’s promises in exchange for a respite in hostilities.
- When
- October 12, 2026.
- Where
- At a news conference in Moscow following talks with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji.
- Why
- Lavrov said he believed Zelensky was seeking time to regain strength and secure a pause.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump discussed oil product supplies in a phone call.
Trump said the United States had repeatedly demanded that Zelensky halt strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Lavrov said Russia would not accept Zelensky’s promises in exchange for a respite in hostilities.
- Speaker
- Sergey Lavrov
- Location
- Moscow
- Date
- October 12, 2026
- Claim
- Trump said Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy ceasefire
- Meeting
- Putin and Trump discussed oil product supplies on October 9
What people are saying
I do not think he has earned a respite.
I do not think we will once again buy into assurances and promises.
The goal is one and very simple: to bargain for time in order to secure a respite.
Sources
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