Ukraine settlement basis on which Russia agrees needs discussion: FM
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Lavrov explains that it is not "necessary to start with the 'Zelensky formula'."
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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gives a press conference to sum up Russia's diplomatic activities in 2023. (TASS)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in an interview for Sputnik broadcasters Komsomolskaya Pravda and Govorit Moskva that the peace plan of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should be rejected as the basis for resolving the war in Ukraine, stressing that instead, the foundations on which Russia is willing to negotiate should be discussed.
Lavrov explained that it was not "necessary to start with the 'Zelensky formula,' it should be put aside... If they want, as the president said, let us discuss the foundations on which we are ready to negotiate."
The top Russian diplomat also detailed that Switzerland has shifted from a neutral status to hostile to Russia, making it unsuitable for Moscow as a venue to conduct peace talks on Ukraine.
In 2023, Lavrov indicated that "everyone understands" that Zelensky's formula is "absolutely not realizable," explaining that no one in the West wants to "seriously" show understanding of the crisis.
He also added that Russia is ready for negotiations but will "not consider any proposals for a ceasefire," since if they do, that would mean Russia was deceived.
Last month, Swiss lawmakers approved a series of motions that could pave the way for the government to work on an international basis to see how billions of dollars of Russia's frozen assets could be used for "reparations" to Ukraine.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Switzerland's envoy Krystyna Marty Lang to condemn the move, which Moscow said "grossly violates the fundamental principles and norms of international law."
Western countries froze around $300 billion of the Russian central bank's assets and reserves that were held in its jurisdictions after the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.
Switzerland will host the Ukraine peace conference at Zelensky's request, primarily to debate his 10-point peace formula, on June 15-16 at the Buergenstock resort. Switzerland's declared purpose is to provide a platform for high-level discourse on how to secure long-term peace for Ukraine.
Around 120 international leaders are anticipated to attend the event. The Russian Embassy in Bern has announced that Russian officials will not attend the meeting, which is scheduled to support yet another version of Kiev's peace plan.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described any efforts to establish peace between Russia and Ukraine are rendered "ridiculous" in the absence of Moscow.
