The versions of Western politicians about the possible start of negotiations between Moscow and Kiev only after a successful counter-offensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) correspond to “schizophrenic logic”. This opinion was expressed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a press conference following a visit to New York as part of Russia’s presidency of the UN Security Council, transmits CASS.
“Now this ridiculous theory has come up: let’s now give Ukraine (Western countries) a successful counter-offensive, then ask Ukraine (President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy to start negotiations. But it’s kind of of schizophrenic logic,” he said.
The diplomat added that Russia is trying to ensure that security threats do not emanate from Ukrainian territory, which “have accumulated there for many years, especially after the February 2014 coup”.
Lavrov too noted that there is no timetable for the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.
“There are awards in other countries. In the same Libya, how many times the French announced some kind of conference, during which it was decided that there would be elections in four months and three days. It’s been since 2015, we’re still in the same place,” explained the Russian Foreign Minister.
Moreover, he added that NATO wanted to destroy Russia, but only won it over. The diplomat said that in recent years the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance have actively merged in military affairs. According to the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the EU has essentially delegated to NATO the issue of the security of all its members and guaranteed the availability of the territory of its member countries for the needs of the military bloc.
Representatives of the Ukrainian army have been talking about a planned counteroffensive since December 2022. At the end of March 2023, Zelenskyy recognized that the Ukrainian Armed Forces cannot yet launch the counterattack due to a lack of ammunition and weapons, so Kiev is waiting for new supplies from Western partners. The Ukrainian president also noted the lack of Western support, asking the United States and Europe for long-range missiles and modern fighter jets. Newsweek citing leaked Pentagon documents writing that Kiev and the Allies planned to launch a counter-offensive on April 30. However, data disclosed by the US Department of Defense, according to information CNN, led to the adjustment of the date of the transition to the counterattack. On April 12, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal declared that a counter-offensive was to be expected this summer.
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