admin
MOSCOW. – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday that Moscow was open to talks with the West on the Ukraine war but had yet to receive any serious proposal to negotiate.
In an interview on state TV, Lavrov said Russia was willing to engage with the United States or with Turkey on ways to end the war, now in its eight month.
Lavrov said officials including White House national security spokesman John Kirby had said the United States was open to talks but that Russia had refused.
“This is a lie,” Lavrov said. “We have not received any serious offers to make contact.”
He also said Russia would not turn down a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden at a mid-November summit of the Group of 20 in Indonesia, and would consider the proposal if it receives one.
“We have repeatedly said that we never refuse meetings. If there is a proposal, then we will consider it.”
Commenting on the possibility that Turkey could host talks between Russia and the West, Lavrov said Moscow would be willing to listen to any suggestions.
He said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan would have an opportunity to put proposals to Russian President Vladimir Putin when both visit Kazakhstan this week.
Lavrov noted that direct talks between Russia and Ukraine had broken down at the end of March. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has ruled out talking to Putin after Russia claimed the annexation last month of four Ukrainian regions that it partly occupies.
He said that the United States had long been involved in the war in Ukraine.
“It seems to me that the Americans have been participating de facto in this war for a long time,” Lavrov told Russian state television.
“This war is being controlled by the Anglo-Saxons.”
Lavrov said the goals of the special military operation, outline by Mr Putin, will be met and that Ukraine must not be a terrorist state, to which everything is permitted.
“This permissiveness exceeds all boundaries and leads to assassinations of journalists, political figures and Verkhovna Rada deputies.”
“Russia cannot allow Ukraine to pose a constant threat to Russia’s security, including accession to NATO and deployment of weapons that will present such a threat on its territory. – Reuters
Online Reporter