Russia and US to discuss Ukraine and Nato in new talks, says Sergey Lavrov

Russia has denied it has plans to attack its neighbour but pressed for legal guarantees that would rule out Nato expansion and weapons deployment there

Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has said talks on Ukraine and Nato are due to begin in the new year. Picture: Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP

Talks between Russia and the United States on Moscow’s demand for Western guarantees precluding Nato’s expansion to Ukraine will start immediately after the new year holiday period, Russia’s top diplomat announced on Monday.

“It is with the US that we will carry out the main work of negotiations, which will take place immediately after the new year holidays end,” Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said in an interview on Monday.