Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a stern warning on Wednesday, stating that Moscow will respond decisively if European nations send troops to Ukraine or seize Russian assets to aid Kyiv. This statement was reported by Reuters.

Addressing the Federation Council, which is Russia’s upper house of parliament, Lavrov articulated Moscow’s position on the ongoing conflict with Ukraine and its tensions with Western countries. According to Reuters, Lavrov emphasized that while Russia does not desire conflict with Europe, it remains ready to counteract any moves that it perceives as an escalation by Western nations.

“We will counter any hostile actions, including the stationing of European military forces in Ukraine or the confiscation of Russian assets. We are already prepared for such a response,” Lavrov declared, as reported by Reuters.

Lavrov also commended former U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance on potential resolutions, referring to him as the “only Western leader” who comprehends what he claims are the unavoidable reasons for the conflict. Lavrov expressed appreciation for Trump’s willingness to engage in dialogue, though he pointed out that Trump is not only refraining from lifting sanctions on Russia but is, in fact, intensifying them, as per Reuters.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated his stance, stating, “We will respond to any hostile steps, including the deployment of European military contingents in Ukraine,” earlier today. This was shared via the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service’s telegram channel and reported by AP.

Later on Monday, Trump addressed the situation at the White House, revealing that he had spoken with European leaders regarding the war. “We had discussions with the leaders of France, Germany, and the U.K. about Ukraine in rather strong terms. We’re awaiting their feedback before taking further steps. As of now, we are not committing any financial resources to Ukraine,” Trump said.

Asked by a reporter for clarification, the president said: “I think we had some little disputes about people… They would like us to go to a meeting over the weekend in Europe, and we’ll make a determination depending on what they come back with. We don’t want to be wasting time… Sometimes you have to let people fight it out, and sometimes you don’t… you’re losing thousands of people a week, and it’s ridiculous.”

As Lavrov accused Europe of obstructing peace efforts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced what he called the first formal meeting with senior Trump administration officials on Ukraine’s reconstruction.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Zelenskyy wrote: “Together with our team, I held a productive discussion with the American side… In fact, this could be considered the first meeting of the group that will work on a document concerning the reconstruction and economic recovery of Ukraine.”

A resident walks among the debris near a damaged house, a day after a Russian strike on a suburb of Odesa, southern Ukraine on March 7, 2025. (Oleksandr Gimanova/AFP via Getty Images)

He said they discussed “key elements for recovery, various mechanisms, and visions for reconstruction” and reviewed updates to the “20 points of the framework document for ending the war.” Zelenskyy added that “overall security… will determine economic security and underpin a safe business environment.”

The Ukrainian president said both sides agreed to continue talks, adding: “As always, there will be no delays on our side. We are working to deliver results.” He closed by thanking Trump, writing: “I thank President Trump and his team for their substantive work and support.”

Later on Monday, Zelenskyy again posted on X where he said, “The 20 points for ending the war form a fundamental document. We are actively working on the key steps – they must be doable. From this fundamental document, we are developing at least two additional ones. The first is on security – regarding security guarantees with the United States. The second is on the economy, covering reconstruction and joint investment.”
 

Reuters contributed to this article.