Photo: AA
TURKISH JOURNAL – Seda Karakaya – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lacks “will to peace.”
Speaking in an interview with Russian state news agency TASS, Lavrov pointed out that the Ukrainian authorities speak only about war and use aggressive rhetoric.
“Any cease-fire is out of the question (for the Ukrainian authorities). The ban on negotiations with the Russian leadership, established by Zelenskyy on Sept. 30, 2022, continues to be in effect. Draw your own conclusions,” he said.
Lavrov admitted that recent events in the Middle East shifted the focus from Ukraine, however, “inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia” continues to be one of the West’s top priorities.
“The so-called Ramstein format continues to function, in which representatives of more than 50 countries discuss Kyiv’s requests for military equipment and ammunition on a monthly basis,” he said, referring to meetings at the US airbase in Germany.
“Neither Washington nor Brussels refuses to provide assistance to the Kyiv regime, realizing that without it, it
is doomed. They are still vitally interested in holding back Russia with the hands and bodies of Ukrainians.”
The West has provided unprecedented humanitarian, economic and military support to Ukraine, where Russia launched a “special military operation” in February 2022. The backing, however, is said to be waning amid internal political disputes and fiscal challenges.
Turning to the issue of arms control, the minister blamed the US for destroying its pillars, saying Washington either directly violated the agreements by withdrawing from them or created conditions that made their implementation impossible.
“Washington’s logic is simple. The pillars that ensured the US dominance are slipping away from under their feet. Largely because of the mistakes of the Americans themselves. … In an attempt to slow down the loss of the hegemon’s position, they relied on force. Hence the pursuit of military superiority, … the refusal from restrictions in arms control,” he said. (AA)
