Russia has said it is ready to help mediate between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) if requested, noting that the ongoing conflict is unlikely to end anytime soon.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov, said his country is prepared to bring together the conflicting parties in eastern DR Congo in an effort to restore peace to the region.

Lavrov noted that despite several peace talks held in different capitals—including Nairobi (Kenya), Luanda (Angola), Doha (Qatar), and Washington (United States)—little progress has been made. He said these efforts have so far failed to yield quick results because long-standing underlying issues remain unresolved.

“We maintain good relations with both Congo and Rwanda, and we want to see the conflict between the two countries come to an end. However, to be honest, there are no clear signs that this war will end soon. If we are asked to serve as mediators, we will not refuse,” Lavrov said.

The BBC writes that during the same media briefing, Lavrov was asked why the conflict between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese government continues, despite the recent peace agreement signed in Washington by DR Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.

He responded by recalling comments made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had once claimed that the war in Congo was among several global conflicts he had managed to end, before later acknowledging that fighting had resumed.

One of the key factors fueling the conflict in eastern Congo is the continued exchange of accusations between Kinshasa and Kigali.

The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, while Rwanda denies the claims and accuses DR Congo of harboring and assisting the FDLR, an armed group Kigali says threatens its national security.

Lavrov said that although AFC/M23 is not a legally recognized group, it remains a powerful fighting force, making a military defeat difficult in the short term. It is for this reason, he added, that Russia would be willing to explore possible contributions toward restoring peace should it be asked to do so.