Ukraine, Lavrov’s background: “European leaders seek agreement with Moscow”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov revealed that several European leaders have tried over the last 6 months to negotiate with Moscow on the war in Ukraine behind Kiev’s back and assured that Russia will not negotiate with those who seek its defeat on the ground. of battle. “Several well-known Western leaders, especially one, on several occasions, through three different channels, sent us signals to meet and talk about what to do regarding Ukraine and European security,” he said during a press conference with his Belarusian counterpart, Sergey. Alenik.

Lavrov, who said he did not want or have the right to “name names”, classified the situation as an act of hypocrisy and malice. Western politicians “have five Fridays a week and lie without blushing. When they declared and continue to declare by inertia that they will not negotiate anything about Ukraine without Ukraine, this is nothing more than hypocrisy.” The head of Russian diplomacy specified that the contacts were not direct from leader to leader, despite the politicians having “direct access” to their colleague in Moscow. “But these are the tricks we’ve seen over the last six months,” he said. Lavrov noted that «if anyone is interested in ending attempts to ensure their own security at the expense of others, in ending attempts to limit the legitimate interests of Russia and the legitimate interests of Russians living in many countries of our mainland, then welcome.” “We are always ready to discuss these matters seriously.” However, he ruled out Moscow’s willingness to negotiate with those who condition future contacts on Russia’s defeat in Ukraine.