Russian foreign minister dismisses peace prospects in Ukraine
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, spoke harshly and unscrupulously about the possibility of peace in Ukraine. In his opinion, a ceasefire is not possible today, and the Russian Federation demands guarantees, with further claims against Kyiv. "A ceasefire does not suit us," said one of Vladimir Putin's close associates.
The war in Ukraine has been ongoing for over a thousand days, and soon it will be three years since Vladimir Putin’s troops attacked Kyiv. Recently, the Russians seemed willing to make peace and come to an agreement with the Ukrainians, but today this is out of the question. Sergey Lavrov, the head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, clearly expressed Moscow's unusual demands.
A ceasefire does not suit us. A ceasefire is a road to nowhere – said one of Vladimir Putin's close associates.
Moscow is experiencing slight successes on the front and is getting closer to securing control over the entire Donbas. The progress in the war of attrition means that the Russians no longer want to negotiate and are counting on further advances on the battlefield. Their negotiating position is strong again, which does not lead to thoughts of peace. Not at this stage of the war.
Sergey Lavrov, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, appeared on public television and repeated the propaganda message that has been fed to the residents of Russia for years. "Moscow has no illusions about resolving the Ukrainian crisis," admitted a trusted associate of Vladimir Putin, noting that the aggressor has its conditions.
The Russians do not want peace unless Kyiv meets their terms, which are unacceptable to Ukrainians. The hard stance of both sides means there is no talk of ending the fighting. Such a scenario suits Moscow as the army is making slow advances and is getting closer to seizing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
We need reliable, legally binding agreements aimed at resolving the main causes of the conflict - said Lavrov.
His words are a clear message to Ukraine and the West. The Russians demanded that Kyiv surrender Crimea, Donbas, and the lands seized during the conflict and also abandon its pro-European ambitions. For Ukraine, giving up NATO and European Union membership is out of the question, just as surrendering their lands to the aggressors. Peace? Not yet.
According to Sergey Lavrov, even a change in the White House, with Donald Trump soon to govern, does not mean a step toward peace. Moscow repeats the propaganda nonsense about "denazification" of Ukraine and, for now, firmly sticks to this narrative. To abandon it, Ukrainians would have to deliver painful blows to the Russians on the battlefield. However, this does not seem likely.
