Russia did not ask for dialogue with Ukraine, but is ready to listen to proposals, says Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today that he has never asked to negotiate with Ukrainebut assured that if there is interest in a dialogue with Moscow, it is always willing to listen to proposals, both from kyiv and from the West, including the United States.

“When they accuse us of constantly requesting negotiations to gain time, to find reinforcements for the special military operation, that is both absurd and disgusting, because people lie,” pointed out about Russia’s war in Ukraine at a press conference on European security.

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“We had never requested negotiations, but we always said that, If someone is interested in holding talks, we would be willing to listen to proposals”, stressed.

lavrov maintained that last March in Istanbul, Russia entered into negotiations with Ukraine and was ready to “reach an agreement on guaranteeing security for Ukraine by respecting its neutral status”, that is, the country’s renunciation of its desire to become a member of NATO.

“But it was not beneficial for them, because the war still did not bring the necessary results to those who were at the helm: America first, and the British.” the minister asserted.

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lavrov returned to accuse the US and the NATO of being “directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine“not only through the supply of weapons, but also the training of personnel” Ukrainian military.

“They train the military on their territory, on the territory of Great Britain, Germany, Italy and other countries”, said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a working session at the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia on November 15, 2022. (BAY ISMOYO / POOL / AFP).

The head of Russian diplomacy also asserted that the “The vast majority of the targets that the Armed Forces of Ukraine attack are being chosen by the bosses” from kyiv.

He claimed that Russia bombs the Ukrainian energy infrastructure because it allows Western countries “flood Ukraine with deadly weapons to kill Russians.”

lavrov further stated that it is concerned by the Western accusations that the Kremlin prepares provocations with weapons of mass destruction when “the West itself, including the US, the UK and France, is doing everything possible to increase its participation in the war they are waging against Russia through the Ukrainians.”

The Foreign Minister of Russia He also said that the country is willing to resume dialogue with the West on the security guarantees that Moscow demanded from the US last December so that NATO gets closer to Russia’s borders.

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“If our Western interlocutors admit their mistakes and express a willingness to return to dialogue on the documents we proposed in December, I think this would be a positive factor. But I doubt that they will find the strength and common sense to do so. Not surprisingly, if it were to happen, we would be willing to resume our talks.”, said.

He also stressed when asked about the possibility of a meeting between the Russian president, Vladimir Putinand the US president, Joe Biden, that the head of the Kremlin never refuses contacts with other leaders and if a call is requested, it is always granted.

lavrov He described as “irresponsible” that the leadership of the Atlantic Alliance says that Ukraine must first win the war before becoming a member of NATO, and criticized the European Union (EU), whose “security is subject to the intentions of the United States”. .

He explained that, in the opinion of Russiasecurity cooperation with Western countries will only be possible on the basis of fundamentally new principles of interaction.

“It is clear that these should fundamentally be new beginnings of interaction. Whether there will be an opportunity for such an interaction in the foreseeable future, I don’t know. The decision rests with the West, which has been systematically destroying everything that was established as the principles for the functioning of a single pan-European organization called the OSCE for decades. asserted.

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“When NATO and the EU understand that their position is a dead end, we will see what initiatives they are going to present to us to discuss in the future,” said lavrovwho nevertheless made it clear that, if the West wants to restore joint work on European security, “we will not be able to restore what was as if nothing had happened.”

lavrov called the press conference because he could not travel due to Western sanctions to Poland to participate in the ministerial meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that is being held today and tomorrow in Lodz.

Source: Elcomercio