MOSCOW | The head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, said Thursday that France had sought to establish “a dialogue on the Ukrainian question” with Moscow without involving Kyiv, at a time when the possibility of peace negotiations is increasingly more mentioned.
Western countries, seeking to display a united front in their support for Kyiv, have repeatedly said that no decisions can be made on Ukraine behind its back.
“I won't go into details so as not to disappoint anyone, but, on several occasions, our French colleagues have launched appeals through confidential channels: 'let us help, let's establish a dialogue on the issue Ukrainian”. Besides, without Ukraine,” Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference.
“Simply a dialogue on the Ukrainian question, in violation of what the West keeps repeating: 'not a word about Ukraine without Ukraine',” he added.
“We did not refuse,” said Sergei Lavrov, saying Russian officials are “ready to listen.”
Sergei Lavrov did not indicate when these supposed contacts took place, nor exactly what subjects they related to.
“The Russian authorities are accustomed to making inappropriate comments aimed at exploiting a war of aggression for which they bear full responsibility. If Russia wants peace, it is up to it to put an end to the war,” responded a French diplomatic source.
“As recalled by France since the start of the war, it is up to Ukraine, an attacked country, to define the moment and the conditions under which they will want to initiate a negotiation process. Ukraine has proposed a peace formula that France supports. A peace concluded without the Ukrainians could in no way be a lasting peace,” she added.
The hypothesis of peace negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine, triggered by the Russian assault of February 2022, is increasingly being mentioned less than a month before Donald Trump returns to the White House.
The Republican, already president from 2017 to 2021, has repeatedly promised to restore peace to Ukraine “in 24 hours” and called for an “immediate ceasefire” as well as talks.
But the vagueness surrounding his plan arouses concern in Ukraine. In difficulty on the front and very dependent on Western aid, it fears being forced into an unfavorable agreement.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western unity at a summit in Brussels.
“Only together can the United States and Europe truly stop (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” he said.
On Thursday, Sergei Lavrov denounced France's “ambiguous behavior” regarding the Ukrainian conflict.
Some European countries, including France, have raised the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine in order to guarantee compliance with a possible ceasefire.
This type of declaration “does not encourage us to take seriously what is happening at the initiative of our French colleagues,” believes Mr. Lavrov.
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