Russia says ready for serious proposals for Ukraine settlement

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova has said that Russia "remains open to a diplomatic solution" to the military conflict in Ukraine, and is "ready to respond to really serious proposals".

Zakharova made the remarks on the consultations on Ukraine held in Saudi Jeddah, according to Kommersant.

She claims that "without the participation of Russia and taking into account its interests, no meetings on the topic of the Ukrainian crisis have the slightest added value”.

A "comprehensive, sustainable and just settlement" is possible only if Ukraine stops fighting and Western countries supply it with weapons, the diplomat said, adding that the neutral, non—aligned and nuclear-free statuses of Ukraine should be confirmed, as well as "new territorial realities are recognized”.

"We are convinced that the implementation of these elements fully meets international peace and security, for which Russia is fighting," Zakharova said in a comment published on the Foreign Ministry's website.