Russia ready for honest talks with Ukraine, says FM Lavrov

Russia is ready for honest negotiations with Ukraine, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated.

“We are ready for negotiations, honest negotiations, without cheating,” Lavrov said at a press conference following talks with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman.

He also commented on what he described as an “open letter” from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that it had been distributed worldwide.

According to him, “polite people do not behave that way,” suggesting that such actions indicate Ukraine does not need negotiations.

“Regarding the possibility of resuming negotiations with Ukraine or on the Ukrainian issue, President Vladimir Putin spoke in detail on this topic at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. This also takes into account the large ‘letter’ from Zelenskyy published the previous day, which was addressed to President Putin but for some reason was sent to the entire world. Polite people do not behave that way. The president assessed this letter as an indication that Ukraine does not need negotiations,” Lavrov said.

By Jeyhun Aghazada