Russia only targeting military targets: Lavrov responding to Trump
3 Min Read
Lavrov says Putin supported Trump’s 30-day ceasefire on Ukraine energy sites, insisting that Russia only targets military infrastructure amid ongoing strikes.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gestures during a news conference following his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow, Russia, Friday, April 18, 2025 (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin "immediately" supported a proposal by US President Donald Trump for a 30-day ceasefire focused on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, according to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who emphasized that Moscow is only targeting military-related sites in its operations.
"In our case, we only target those sites which are used by the military. And regarding the ceasefire and regarding the call to stop, President Putin immediately supported President Trump's proposal a few weeks ago to establish a 30-day ceasefire, provided we do not repeat mistakes of the last 10 years when deals were signed and then Ukraine would violate those deals with the support and with encouragement from [former US President Joe] Biden administration and from European countries," Lavrov told CBS News.
Russia insists strikes target only military sites
Lavrov reiterated that while Russia agreed to the proposed ceasefire, it was essential that Ukraine does not exploit it to strengthen its military. He noted that Putin’s commitment to the ceasefire included halting the flow of weapons to Ukraine during the truce period.
On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported conducting large-scale strikes on Ukrainian aviation, missile, and armored vehicle production facilities. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov affirmed that these strikes were focused solely on military installations and infrastructure linked to the Ukrainian armed forces.
Trump urges Russia to halt attacks, negotiate peace
Following Russia’s recent strikes, President Trump voiced his dissatisfaction, calling on Russian authorities to cease attacks on Ukraine. He urged both sides to move toward a negotiated peace settlement, stressing the need for immediate de-escalation and dialogue.
Meanwhile, Putin hosted US envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin for a meeting which lasted three hours, and was also attended by Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Russia’s special presidential envoy for international economic cooperation.
According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, the potential revival of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine was a key topic during the meeting. "As for the Ukrainian crisis, in particular, the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine was discussed," Ushakov said, noting that the meeting lasted three hours.
He described the meeting as "constructive and useful," noting that it coincided with the symbolic 80th anniversary of the historic Elbe River meeting between US and Soviet forces during World War II.
