Lavrov Signals Openness to New U.S. Leadership Amid Ukraine Conflict

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed his willingness to engage with any U.S. leader who supports equitable and mutually respectful dialogue, as he welcomes Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance’s stance on Ukraine.

Vance, recently selected by Donald Trump as his running mate, has called for an end to American military support for Ukraine. Lavrov noted that unlike Vance, Trump has not explicitly opposed recent congressional aid packages for Ukraine, but he has voiced concerns over them. Trump is currently in a close election race with President Joe Biden.

Lavrov criticized the lack of high-level contacts between Washington and Moscow since the war in Ukraine began. He emphasized that during Trump’s presidency, despite numerous sanctions, dialogue between the two nations continued at high levels. Lavrov assured that Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries, including the United States. His comments come as he chairs two United Nations Security Council meetings in New York.

(With inputs from agencies.)