Russia-US diplomatic dispute over Ukraine conflict

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the United States and Europe of responsibility for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Lavrov claimed that a significant opportunity for peace was lost a year ago, asserting that the conflict might have concluded if the U.S. had not withdrawn from the Anchorage agreements.

These assertions are contested by U.S. officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that no agreements regarding Ukraine were reached during the August 2025 Anchorage summit, noting the meeting ended without consensus because Russia’s proposal was deemed unacceptable. While some Russian officials have suggested that agreements to end the war were reached between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, U.S. accounts maintain that no such consensus was achieved.

During a United Nations Security Council meeting, Lavrov stated that Russia will not pause its military operations, claiming Europe only seeks a cessation of hostilities to use the time to resupply Ukraine with weapons. This stance follows discussions regarding a potential moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed readiness to declare such a moratorium if Russia commits to the same, while U.S. President Donald Trump suggested at the UN General Assembly that a deal could be reached sooner than expected.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband addressed the Security Council, asserting that Russia is failing in its war and calling on Russian officials to tell President Vladimir Putin the truth to end the bloodshed. Miliband emphasized London's unwavering support for Kyiv, noting that Russian advances have stalled despite significant casualties.