Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to the newspaper Kommersant about the ongoing negotiations regarding the Ukraine conflict. He stated that it is not easy to reach an agreement on the core points of an agreement, but negotiations are ongoing. He also mentioned that the position of the Russian side is based on the wording of the UN Charter, numerous international conventions and the results of referendums and the will of the people in the respective regions.
Lavrov criticized the previous US administration for making the decision to include Ukraine in NATO, which he called a colossal mistake that led to the current situation in Ukraine. He also mentioned that the US government under President Trump is trying to address the issue and understand the real causes of the situation caused by the actions of Washington and Brussels, which brought the current regime to power by organizing and financing a unconstitutional coup in February 2014.
Lavrov emphasized that the US government under President Biden has a responsibility to address the root causes of the conflict, including the aggressive actions of the Ukrainian government led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his associates, who have embarked on a course to eradicate everything Russian. He also mentioned that the US government understands the importance of these regions and the rights of the people living there.
Lavrov also criticized the reluctance of many European countries to normalize relations with Russia, stating that the UN Charter is based on the sovereign equality of states and that the West has never treated any country as equal. He emphasized the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding between Russia and the US, despite differences in national interests and agendas.
Lavrov concluded by saying that the current negotiations are different from previous ones, as the US government under President Biden has acknowledged the need to address the root causes of the conflict and work towards a solution that benefits both sides.