Russian MFA spox rejects Zelenskyy's peace plan, slams France, Sweden for latest actions

The Russian Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, held a large press conference on January 12, responding to journalists on subjects including, among others, the Turkish mediation role in the conflict with Ukraine, French arms supplies to Kyiv and the investigation into the cause of the explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022. 

Zakharova stated that the plan for a peaceful settlement of the conflict presented by President Zelenskyy, which is being backed by Türkiye, is unacceptable to Russia.

"We are well aware of Türkiye's evaluation of Zelenskyy's so-called 'peace plan'. We cannot agree with it. Ankara's support of the Kyiv regime's venture is unlikely going to contribute to the search for the best ways to achieve peace in Ukraine", she argued, recalling, that Russia has already previously expressed its position regarding Zelenskyy's peace settlement proposal.

The above-mentioned plan by Zelenskyy, for which Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu expressed support on January 10,y entails 9 points: 

• guaranteeing radiational and atomic security of Ukraine
• guaranteeing industrial and energy security
• the release of all Ukrainian war prisoners 
• the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity according to the 1991 borders 
• the withdrawal of Russian armed forces and the complete halt to military activities
• the "return of justice"
• measures against ecocide 
• avoiding an escalation
• written record for the end of the war.

The Russian spokesperson also commented on the recent announcement of France sending new weapon supplies to Ukraine, this time including AMX-10 RC armoured fighting vehicles, also referred to as "wheeled guns".

"The decision regarding new military supplies to Ukraine is yet another gesture, which provokes a future escalation and, as follows from that, new victims in this conflict", Zakharova responded, saying that the French side is getting itself further pulled into this conflict by providing those "wheeled guns". 

She also touched upon the ongoing investigation into the causes for the, so far, unexplained explosions that occurred at the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in 2022, which transported Russian gas to Germany. Zakharova in particular commented on the Swedish government's refusal to cooperate with Russian authorities in the investigation into this incident and called the step "puzzling". 

As per the spokesperson, Stockholm argued, that fulfilling Russia's request to work together on the investigation would "pose a threat to Swedish security" and that it rejected Moscow's proposal of establishing a joint investigative group to look into the, as referred to by Zakharova, sabotage.

"We view ourselves as the side, which has suffered great damages, not to mention losses", she stressed, arguing that this is why Moscow deserves to be kept informed on what is going on with the investigation.