Lavrov: Russia will weigh Witkoff, Kushner proposals but make no political concessions
In short
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia will look at what US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner offer, but will make no political concessions. He said proposals that are economically and financially beneficial to Russia could be acceptable.
Read the full story 1 min read
Russia will look at what US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner offer, but will make no political concessions, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, according to RIA Novosti, dated Moscow, 20 October. [ 1 , 2 ]
Lavrov said Witkoff and Kushner had come and tried to "organize" something. "We will see what they offer. If they offer what is beneficial to us economically and financially, then why not? But this must be done without any political concessions on our part and without expecting political favour that will 'bail us out' in all world affairs," he said at a meeting with university graduates admitted to the diplomatic service for the first time. [ 1 ]
Lavrov also said it has become a political tradition in American history that a new president is not bound by any decisions of his predecessor. The minister suggested this possibility would later be used to bargain with Russia. [ 1 ]
RBC summarised the remarks as Lavrov allowing for agreements with the US without political concessions, if they are economically beneficial. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The statement sets out the Russian position on possible US proposals: economic deals are open, political concessions are not. The documents give no detail on what the US side has proposed.
Key facts
- Lavrov said Russia will see what US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner offer. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Lavrov said there will be no political concessions from the Russian side. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- He said that if the proposals are economically and financially beneficial to Russia, "why not". [ 1 , 4 ]
- Lavrov said Witkoff and Kushner had come and tried to "organize" something. [ 1 ]
- He spoke at a meeting with university graduates admitted to the diplomatic service for the first time. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- What Witkoff and Kushner are actually proposing. The documents do not describe any specific US proposal; Lavrov said only "we will see what they offer".