Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the United States and Britain of slowing down negotiations with Ukraine. It is known for certain that “neither London nor Washington” would advise Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to speed up negotiations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with a Russian television channel that the Foreign Ministry shared on Telegram on Monday evening. “They always advise Zelensky to tighten his position.”
Lavrov claimed that Kyiv was delaying negotiations. Recently, for example, the Ukrainian side stated that they had not yet had time to deal with the latest Russian proposal. There was no information from Kyiv.
Lavrov also stated that Ukraine’s positions were predetermined from abroad. “Many of us are convinced that the real position of Ukraine will be determined in Washington, London and other western capitals.” That’s why “our political analysts say why talk to Zelenskyy’s team, you have to talk to the Americans, negotiate with them, reach some kind of agreement”. The Russian side has repeatedly questioned Ukraine’s independence and right to exist.
The prevention of NATO accession and a neutral status of Ukraine is one of the main goals of the Russian war of aggression against the neighboring state. Zelenskyj had shown himself ready to talk about a neutral status for the country and security guarantees from third countries. So far, however, there are no tangible results in the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
KEYSTONE