Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that talks about a security guarantee for Ukraine – against Russia – must involve Moscow itself. "Moscow won't agree with collective security guarantees negotiated without Russia," he said, implying a Russian veto over defenses for Ukraine.

US and European officials will immediately work on providing Ukraine with robust security guarantees to open a path for a landmark meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskiy, according to people familiar with the matter.