Russian Foreign Minister says Trump understands root causes of the conflict better than other Western leaders.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday for what he said was a better understanding of the Ukraine conflict than any other Western leader.
"When we speak about eliminating root causes of any conflict, including the Ukrainian conflict, this is the only way to resolve the problem and to establish long-lasting peace. Remove root causes," Lavrov said at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in southern Turkey.
"President Trump was the first and so far, I think, almost the only one among the Western leaders who repeatedly, with conviction, several times stated that it was a huge mistake to pull Ukraine into NATO. And this is one of the root causes which we quoted so many times."
President Vladimir Putin, who launched Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has long cast Ukraine's tilt to the West, including its desire to join NATO, as a threat to Russia.
Lavrov's remarks followed talks in St. Petersburg on Friday between Putin and Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff about the search for a peace deal.
Witkoff has emerged as a key figure in the on-off rapprochement between Moscow and Washington. However, Friday's talks took place at a time when U.S.-Russia dialogue aimed at agreeing a ceasefire ahead of a possible peace deal appears to have stalled over disagreements around conditions for a full pause in hostilities.
Commenting on an agreement between Ukraine and Russia to pause strikes on each other's energy facilities, Lavrov said that Moscow has been keeping its word and accused Kyiv of striking Russian energy infrastructure almost every day.
"I gave to our colleagues from Turkey, to (Foreign) Minister (Hakan) Fidan, what we gave to the Americans, to the U.N., to the OSCE - the list of facts listing the attacks by Ukraine during the last three weeks against Russian energy infrastructure."
Ukraine has made similar accusations against Russia since the U.S.-backed moratorium was approved.
Talks in Paris between U.S. officials and European leaders have kickstarted a new diplomatic format aimed at shaping Ukraine's post-war future, with the involvement of Europe’s three most powerful countries.
A gunman opened fire at Florida State University on Thursday, killing two people and injuring four others before being shot by police. The attacker, identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, is the son of a Leon County deputy sheriff.
A federal grand jury has indicted Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing a top UnitedHealth executive in New York last year, paving the way for prosecutors to seek the death penalty.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that Russia has reduced strikes on energy facilities but redirected attacks toward civilian infrastructure, undermining a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.
Hamas has rejected Israel’s latest offer of a temporary truce in Gaza, instead demanding a comprehensive agreement that would end the war and include a full prisoner exchange.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Hamas has proposed a deal to exchange all hostages for a set number of Palestinians jailed by Israel, rejecting an interim truce and calling for broader negotiations to end the war in Gaza.
A yellow fever outbreak in Colombia has prompted a nationwide health emergency, with 74 confirmed cases and 34 deaths since last year. The central-western Tolima region is facing the highest number of cases.
Following the U.S. tariff impositions, President Donald Trump revealed that China has sought discussions, but he will delay any agreement on TikTok until the trade issues with China are addressed.
Cambodia welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit, as the two countries explored opportunities for expanded cooperation against the backdrop of shifting global trade conditions.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A tourist helicopter crashed into New York City's Hudson River on Thursday, killing all six people on board, including a Spanish family with three children and the pilot.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Hamas has proposed a deal to exchange all hostages for a set number of Palestinians jailed by Israel, rejecting an interim truce and calling for broader negotiations to end the war in Gaza.
A yellow fever outbreak in Colombia has prompted a nationwide health emergency, with 74 confirmed cases and 34 deaths since last year. The central-western Tolima region is facing the highest number of cases.
Following the U.S. tariff impositions, President Donald Trump revealed that China has sought discussions, but he will delay any agreement on TikTok until the trade issues with China are addressed.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced that President Donald Trump will visit Rome, with potential meetings involving EU representatives during his stay.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Hamas has proposed a deal to exchange all hostages for a set number of Palestinians jailed by Israel, rejecting an interim truce and calling for broader negotiations to end the war in Gaza.
A yellow fever outbreak in Colombia has prompted a nationwide health emergency, with 74 confirmed cases and 34 deaths since last year. The central-western Tolima region is facing the highest number of cases.
Following the U.S. tariff impositions, President Donald Trump revealed that China has sought discussions, but he will delay any agreement on TikTok until the trade issues with China are addressed.
Cambodia welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit, as the two countries explored opportunities for expanded cooperation against the backdrop of shifting global trade conditions.
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