Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Türkiye and Belarus could play a “constructive mediator role” in resolving the Ukraine conflict. Speaking after talks with his Belarusian counterpart, Lavrov said President Putin discussed the issue with Turkish President Erdoğan, who expressed willingness to help and use Istanbul as a negotiation platform.
Lavrov criticized French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent remarks on Ukraine, calling them “aggressive” and “disconnected from reality.” He said Macron’s statements had “nothing to do with peacemaking,” noting the French leader’s comments about Russia being in strategic conflict with Europe and plans to deploy military personnel to areas like Kyiv and Odessa.