Russia on demanded that NATO formally retract its 2008 commitment to grant Ukraine membership in the alliance. Moscow also dismissed any suggestion of NATO troops acting as peacekeepers, following talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Riyadh on Tuesday. Lavrov described the talks as “useful” but reiterated Russia’s stance on Ukraine’s NATO ambitions.
Moscow’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that merely halting Ukraine’s NATO accession was not sufficient. She said NATO must formally rescind its 2008 Bucharest Summit declaration, where the alliance promised Ukraine and Georgia eventual membership but without a set timeline.
"A refusal to accept Kyiv into NATO is not enough now. The alliance must disavow the Bucharest promises of 2008," Zakharova said.
Lavrov also rejected the idea of NATO forces acting as peacekeepers in Ukraine, referring to a proposal by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to send European troops under a separate banner.
“The appearance of NATO forces under a false flag—whether EU or national—does not change anything. This is unacceptable to us,” Lavrov said.
The Bucharest declaration of 2008 was a compromise between the U.S., which backed Ukraine’s entry, and France and Germany, which feared antagonising Russia. Moscow has consistently cited NATO’s expansion as a key reason for its war in Ukraine.
While NATO insists it is a defensive alliance with no expansionist aims, Russia claims that Ukraine’s potential accession represents a direct threat to its sovereignty.
Zakharova also referred to Ukraine’s 1990 declaration of sovereignty, in which Kyiv pledged to remain neutral, avoid military blocs, and remain nuclear-free.
Ukraine gained full independence in 1991 and later agreed to give up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the U.S., and the UK under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 4 July, covering the latest developments you need to know....
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 4 July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and the United States share a special responsibility for maintaining global security as the world's two largest nuclear powers.
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally expanding its authority and undermining regional stability.
Armenia's parliament has passed a new law raising the requirements for citizens living abroad to vote in national elections, following concerns over alleged efforts to influence last month's parliamentary vote through Armenian citizens residing in Russia.
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed sensitive documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, marking the government's first public comments on the incident.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likely to drive higher global temperatures and intensify extreme weather in the months ahead.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Eight Buddhist monks were killed and more than 20 others injured after an 11-year-old boy driving his parents' pickup truck ploughed into a religious procession in north-eastern Thailand, police said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and the United States share a special responsibility for maintaining global security as the world's two largest nuclear powers.
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally expanding its authority and undermining regional stability.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 4 July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said, as Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure continued to add pressure to fuel supplies inside Russia.
World Athletics has reaffirmed its decision to keep Russian and Belarusian athletes excluded from international competition, saying there has been no meaningful progress towards peace in Ukraine.
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