The head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, considered on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the G20 in Indonesia, the Ukrainian conditions for starting talks to end the war “unrealistic”.
“All the problems come from the Ukrainian side, which categorically refuses negotiations and makes statements that are manifestly unrealistic and not in line with the situation,” he said.
“Short conversation” with Emmanuel Macron
He claimed to have told French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during “brief talks” during the G20. According to him, “the solution process (of the conflict) is hampered by Ukraine”, a country that Russia invaded on February 24.
Ukraine demands the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory and the return of its territorial integrity, while Moscow demanded at the end of September the annexation of four Ukrainian regions, in addition to the Crimean peninsula annexed in 2014.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told him after these annexations that he would not negotiate with Vladimir Putin. Military counteroffensives have allowed Ukraine, armed by its Western allies, to reconquer lost territories, humiliatingly forcing Russia to withdraw.
United States pointed a finger
Sergei Lavrov also denounced the “Russophobic” nature of Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech before the G20. The Russian minister also once again accused the West of waging a “hybrid war” against Russia using Ukraine, before repeating that Moscow had been forced to launch its offensive against its neighbor to defend and protect Russian-speaking populations.
The head of Russian diplomacy also indicated that, in his opinion, the United States was not preparing peace negotiations on Ukraine.
“Regarding reports that the Americans are planning talks, these rumors appear regularly and then disappear,” he said.
Source: BFM TV
