Moscow has no illusions about the potential for a simple settlement of the Ukraine battle with the administration of incoming US President Donald Trump taking workplace subsequent month, Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov has mentioned.
Hypothesis about potential Russia-Ukraine peace talks gained momentum after Trump’s victory within the US presidential election final month. The Republican has repeatedly vowed to rapidly finish the preventing.
Lavrov made the remarks on Wednesday throughout an interview with this system 60 Minutes aired on the Rossiya TV channel.
He mentioned many have some expectations of potential adjustments with Trump returning to the White Home. Nonetheless, the battle can solely be resolved within the context of agreements that might take into consideration the nationwide pursuits of Russia and, on the identical time, the “respectable pursuits of different nations.”
Lavrov reiterated that Moscow is open to talks, saying “we by no means abandon negotiations … however we have to see severe, concrete proposals…”
The Russian international minister mentioned he was conscious of current statements by Trump’s particular adviser on Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, who claimed that the incoming US president is excited about stopping the Ukraine battle “as rapidly as potential.”
The retired US Military Common, Kellogg instructed Fox Information this week {that a} sustainable peace between Russia and Ukraine is certainly one of Trump’s prime international coverage priorities. He mentioned Trump is looking for a peace that shall be “truthful… sustainable, and safe,” including that he doesn’t need the settlement course of to go the identical method because the now-defunct Minsk agreements.
Signed in 2014 and brokered by Germany and France, the agreements have been supposed to offer the Donetsk and Lugansk areas, now a part of Russia, particular standing inside the Ukrainian state.
Moscow has repeatedly mentioned it’s open to talks on Ukraine, offered they take into consideration the territorial “actuality on the bottom.” Nonetheless, within the fall of 2022, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky signed a presidential decree banning talks with the present management in Moscow altogether. He imposed the ban after 4 former Ukrainian areas voted overwhelmingly to affix Russia.
Kiev stays unwilling to begin any diplomatic engagement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov instructed reporters on Tuesday.
One of many peace plans reportedly being thought of by Trump would contain freezing the battle alongside the present entrance line with out recognizing Russia’s sovereignty over territories claimed by Ukraine whereas suspending Kiev’s NATO membership ambitions.
Moscow has dominated out any freeze of the battle, arguing that this may enable Ukraine to win time and rearm itself. It maintains that the battle can solely finish when its targets, together with Ukraine’s neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification, are met. It has additionally signaled that it could instantly declare a ceasefire and start peace talks as soon as Kiev withdraws from all Russian territory, together with Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye Areas.
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