(Dan Tri) – Russia said Moscow sees no signs of Ukraine wanting to start negotiations amid the escalating conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (Photo: Sputnik).
`So far, we have not seen any desire in neighboring Ukraine to start serious negotiations,` Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference after talks with his Saudi counterpart.
`Furthermore, I have repeatedly said that (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky issued a decree last September banning any negotiations with Russia, while Mr.
According to Mr. Lavrov, Russia welcomes Saudi Arabia’s interest in helping to create conditions for resolving the ongoing conflict as soon as possible as well as resolving the situation in the context of political requirements.
President Zelensky last year signed a decree denying the possibility of negotiations with his Russian counterpart.
President Zelensky’s decree was issued in the context of Russia’s announcement to annex four Ukrainian territories including Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia after a controversial referendum in these areas.
Mr. Zelensky said this week that Ukraine does not see any circumstances for communication with the Russian President because `he does not keep his word.`
The Kremlin claims the special military operation in Ukraine will not end if Kiev does not join the talks.
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have been stalled since the end of March last year.
German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz announced this week that any peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the conflict will only begin when Moscow agrees to withdraw its troops.
Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Britain, Germany and France asked Ukraine to reach an agreement to move closer to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), allowing the country more access to military equipment.