Russia's Lavrov discusses Alaska summit outcome with Turkish, Hungarian counterparts

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held phone conversations on Saturday with his Turkish and Hungarian counterparts, just hours after the U.S.–Russia summit in Alaska ended without a breakthrough on Ukraine.

President Donald Trump, who hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, urged Kyiv to strike a deal with Moscow, saying, “Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.”

According to the Russian foreign ministry, Lavrov spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at Ankara’s request, with both sides reviewing the outcome of the Alaska talks. Turkey has positioned itself as a NATO member that maintains dialogue with both Russia and Ukraine, keeping open the possibility of mediation.

Lavrov also spoke with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who said Budapest wanted a peaceful settlement to the conflict, now in its fourth year. “A durable resolution to the conflict is in our interest, as well as for peace and security to return to Central Europe,” Szijjarto wrote on Facebook.

Hungary has preserved close relations with Moscow throughout the fighting, opposing EU sanctions and maintaining energy ties, despite criticism from Western allies of Ukraine. Prime Minister Viktor Orban said after the Alaska summit that “the world is a safer place than it was yesterday,” though other European leaders stressed that decisions on Ukrainian territory must remain in Kyiv’s hands.

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