Russia denies claims top diplomat had backchannel meetings with former US national security officials in New York: report

NBC reported that in April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended meetings in New York in what was described as "back-channel diplomacy." Four former national security officials and two who are current officials revealed the meeting to NBC. Lavrov was in town to chair the UN Security Council.

Russia denied the clai, with Agenzia Nova reporting that "Moscow has denied reports that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had talks with senior US officials last April. This was stated by the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, commenting on some news from the US broadcaster 'NBC News'. 'This is disinformation, a fake news spread by Western media,' Zakharova told a news conference."

The Biden administration, which has offered the support of the US until Ukraine wins the war, was aware reported meetings, though reportedly was not directing them. Those who attended the reported meeting with Lavrov briefed the National Security Council after the meeting.

That meeting reportedly delved into issues as to how to end the war, and what terms of peace would look like. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this week that for him, the war would not come to an end until Crimea was back under Ukrainian control.

"We cannot imagine Ukraine without Crimea," Zelensky said. "And while Crimea is under the Russian occupation, it means only one thing: War is not over yet."

But that was one of the issues NBC reported was discussed between Lavrov and the officials in April. Zelensky has reportedly been meeting with the CIA, which came up in an interview with CNN. "To be honest with you, I was surprised to see the information in some media but both in the US and Ukrainian and European media. My communication with the CIA chief should always be behind the scenes and the media attention, because we discuss important things, what Ukraine needs and how Ukraine is prepared to act," he said.

The group reportedly discussed "the fate of Russian-held territory that Ukraine may never be able to liberate, and the search for an elusive diplomatic off-ramp that could be tolerable to both sides." Part of the goal was to maintain open communication with Russia so that the avenues to negotiation and bringing an end to the war remained available.

"Sitting down with Lavrov were Richard Haass, a former diplomat and the outgoing president of the Council on Foreign Relations, current and former officials said. The group was joined by Europe expert Charles Kupchan and Russia expert Thomas Graham, both former White House and State Department officials who are Council on Foreign Relations fellows," the outlet reports.

Additional meetings have involved "have involved academics, leaders from major think tanks or research institutes and others in the Russian foreign policy sphere perceived as having President Vladimir Putin’s ear or being in regular touch with Kremlin decision-makers," sources told NBC.

This kind of diplomacy, where former officials are keeping the door open but not making promises, is called "Track Two diplomacy." These back-channel conversations have been under the radar, while high-level official conversations have been rare.

Few have been urging peace publicly, and Zelensky has made continued proclamations about the necessary escalation of the war effort. Earlier this week, he claimed that Russia had laid explosives on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, though satellite images and an inspection from the IAEA did not reveal the existence of mines.