lavrov says Russia ready for Ukraine talks without ceasefire
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that Moscow remains ready for negotiations with Ukraine but will not suspend military operations during the talks.
Speaking on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Lavrov said Russia would continue its military operations while negotiations are underway. (Радио Спутник)
“We remain ready for negotiations, but military operations will not be suspended for the duration of the negotiations,” Lavrov said, according to Russian media reports citing his remarks to journalists.
Lavrov also addressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s reported interest in meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Zelenskyy could travel to Moscow if he wanted to hold talks.
He described Russia’s invitation for Zelenskyy to come to Moscow as a “huge gesture of goodwill,” arguing that the Ukrainian president has not revoked a decree prohibiting talks with Putin. (Радио Спутник)
Russia has continued to signal its readiness for negotiations in recent days. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Moscow remained open to talks on Ukraine and that its conditions for a settlement had not changed. (Interfax.ru)
The latest remarks come as efforts to revive U.S.-mediated negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv remain stalled, with the two sides still divided over key issues related to a potential settlement. (Reuters)