Lavrov stated the inadmissibility of the participation of France and Germany in the peace plan for Ukraine

Russia does not consider France and Germany as possible mediators in resolving the conflict in Ukraine. This was stated on November 25 by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a press conference of the foreign ministers of the Russian Federation and Belarus.

"The Minsk process was a negotiation between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by France and Germany, as they believe. Well, now there can be no question of any mediation by either France or Germany," he said.

Lavrov noted that Russia primarily appreciates the peacekeeping efforts of Belarus, Turkey, Hungary and the United States.

In addition, the head of the Russian foreign Ministry criticized the statements of French President Emmanuel Macron about plans to send troops to the area of Kiev and Odessa after the settlement. Lavrov called such statements "dreams that have nothing to do with a peaceful settlement."

The Russian Foreign Minister also added that European leaders, with their harsh statements towards Russia, are trying to distract their people from internal problems, in particular, from failed social and economic policies. The Minister also noted that Russia appreciates the constructive position of Belarus, which is of practical importance for the settlement process as a neighboring country with Russia and Ukraine.

The EU remains apprehensive amid the peace talks between the United States and Ukraine. What the media is writing

Earlier in the day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said after an emergency summit of the European Union (EU) on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine in Angola that he did not expect a breakthrough on the issue this week. Merz also thanked US President Donald Trump for providing a plan for a peaceful settlement of the conflict, which will serve as a "model."

The day before, Merz called the points of the US plan for Ukraine on the disposal of Russian frozen assets "unacceptable". He noted that one of the 28 points of the American plan involves the transfer of these funds for the reconstruction of Ukraine, with the condition that Washington then receives half of the profits. Merz stressed that if the issue of granting a loan is considered, it will be initiated by the European Union.

The Bild newspaper reported a day earlier that the EU member states had expressed a desire to amend at least four points of Trump's peace plan for a settlement in Ukraine. It was noted that they did not like the provisions written there on the issue of territories, as well as on frozen assets of the Russian Federation. The Washington Post (WP) reported on November 23 that European leaders have developed an alternative proposal for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine. As explained in the publication, it provides for the waiver of restrictions for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the postponement of the resolution of territorial issues for the period after the ceasefire.

Russian Senator Alexei Pushkov said on November 23 that Europe wants to disrupt Trump's plan for Ukraine, and also pointed out that the counter-plan being developed by EU politicians would contain unrealistic positions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on November 21 that there was a shrinking space for Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to make a decision. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow had received a plan from Washington, which, according to him, could be used "as the basis for a final peaceful settlement."

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.