Russia “does not refuse to negotiate with Ukraine,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday during a trip to Pretoria, South Africa. Almost a year after the start of the war, the head of Russian diplomacy returned to the first weeks of the conflict, assuring that Kyiv and Moscow were close to reaching an agreement in March.
In fact, the negotiation phases took place at the beginning of the war between the two parties. “And at the end of March, the two delegations agreed on the principle of resolving this conflict,” Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.
Moscow has said several times that it is ready for a “serious dialogue”
“But our American, British and some European colleagues told Ukraine that it was too early to make a deal, and the almost-concluded deal “never found favor with Kyiv,” Russia’s foreign minister denounced.
Moscow has said several times that it is ready for “serious dialogue” with Ukraine on the condition that Ukraine agrees to the annexation of several territories, but Kyiv demands the full withdrawal of Russian forces before any dialogue.
“Those who refuse must understand that the longer they refuse, the more difficult it will be to find a solution,” Sergei Lavrov added.
Source: BFM TV
