Russia "accuses" Ukraine of refusing peace talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine was derailing peace efforts by refusing to attend talks in Istanbul, Turkey.

RT reported on July 15 that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine was derailing peace efforts by rejecting talks in Istanbul (Turkey) that Moscow considered feasible.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Photo: Ria Novosti.

Speaking at a press conference following a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tianjin, China, Foreign Minister Lavrov rejected Ukraine's recent claims that the Istanbul format was limited to humanitarian issues and that they had "run out of steam".

Mr Lavrov said such statements showed Ukraine's refusal to negotiate and "contempt for its own people", recalling Kiev's obstruction of efforts to repatriate the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers.

Russian and Ukrainian delegations have held two face-to-face talks in Türkiye this year. At their most recent meeting in June, the two sides exchanged draft proposals for a potential peace deal and agreed on a further prisoner exchange.

The second round of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine took place in Istanbul on June 2. Photo: Tass.

Moscow has proposed holding a third round of talks but has not received a response from Kiev.

Russia accused Western countries of increasing military support for Ukraine, supplying long-range weapons to Kiev with the clear aim of attacking Russian territory and destroying any prospects for negotiations.

Regarding Ukraine and Western countries' calls for an unconditional ceasefire, Foreign Minister Lavrov said that Ukraine could take advantage of the temporary ceasefire to rearm.

Mr. Lavrov reaffirmed that Russia's military operations will continue according to the plan approved by the President.

>>> Readers are invited to watch more videos about the second round of direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul, Turkey

Video source: Ruptly

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/nga-to-ukraine-tu-choi-dam-phan-hoa-binh-post1555085.html