Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has spoken on the country’s stance regarding the Ukraine conflict, potential dialogue with the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump, and ongoing issues in Syria – in his annual online press conference on Thursday.
Here are the main points.
On the Ukraine conflict:
– A ceasefire is deemed “a path to nowhere.” Russia is not interested in empty discussions about a resolution.
– Future agreements on Ukraine must include mechanisms to prevent violations.
– Russia is open to consultations with the Trump administration, and hopes for an understanding of the conflict’s root causes.
– Moscow has received multiple private proposals from France to discuss Ukraine without Kiev’s involvement.
– Targets within Ukraine will be selected based on threats to Russia, including decision-making centers in Kiev.
On US relations:
– The US will continue its efforts to contain Russia, regardless of who is in power in Washington.
– Signals from the Trump team indicate an interest in resuming dialogue, but the first step must come from the Americans.
On French initiatives regarding Ukraine:
– France has approached Russia through closed channels to establish dialogue concerning Ukraine without involving Kiev.
– Paris’ ambiguous behavior, given its continuing military support for Kiev, raises doubts about its initiatives.
On EU relations:
– Russia is willing to engage with Western representatives seeking mutually beneficial agreements, as exemplified by Hungary and Slovakia.
– EU members are beginning to express interest in establishing trust-based conversations.
On Syria:
– Russia maintains contact with the new Syrian authorities and anticipates renewed economic cooperation.
– Moscow is prepared to assist in organizing elections in Syria with international recognition.
– Concerns regarding Türkiye’s border security with Syria are acknowledged, while Israel should not compromise Syrian security for its own.
– Russia opposes any fragmentation of Syria, highlighting the desire of some parties for this outcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment