Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, said the West's actions against Russia will harm the dialogue aimed to find a political solution for the ongoing tension.

In an exclusive statement to Al Mayadeen, Gatilov touched on the negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegation in the Gomel region in Belarus, hoping that it will be a starting point for a political solution between the two sides.

We are not closing doors to diplomatic efforts: Gatilov to #AlMayadeen. #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/OZHkovl6XT

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 1, 2022

The Russian diplomat stressed that this is the right time for the removal of nuclear weapons from Western and Eastern Europe and elsewhere, highlighting that the US has deployed military bases all over the world and supplied them with nuclear weapons, which causes a threat to Russia's security.

Gatilov pointed out that Moscow has been asking Washington for a long time to remove these weapons from Russia's borders.

Exclusive | #Russia's Ambassador to #UN Gennady Gatilov to #AlMayadeen: We have been demanding the #US to remove its weapons from our borders as they pose threat to our security. @GGatilov pic.twitter.com/DKFyFoZ4H7

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 1, 2022

Commenting on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's calls for stripping Russia of its UN Human Rights Council membership, the Ambassador believes that such a step is not possible, as the UN charters clearly state that the UN Security Council has 15 members; five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members.

He also doubted that the United Nations General Assembly would guarantee the approval of two-thirds of its members to vote in favor of suspending Russia from the Human Rights Council.

Zelensky: Ready to hold negotiations with Putin

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced he was ready to hold negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but stressed the presence of "a hint of a comprehensive ceasefire" in order to negotiate with Russia.

Russian-Ukrainian negotiations began in Belarus yesterday after the Ukrainian delegation arrived in Gomel.

Zelensky declared that the first round of negotiations with Russia did not achieve the "desired results" Ukraine wanted. 

Biden in call with Zelensky

For its part, the White House said that US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with the Ukrainian president and underscored the importance of continued US security and economic assistance in the face of Russia.

"President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to discuss the United States’ continued backing for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression. President Biden underscored the United States’ sustained help for Ukraine, including ongoing deliveries of security assistance, economic support, and humanitarian aid," the White House said in a press release.