Lavrov Got Nervous Over Europe's "Ultimatum"
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Dialogue with Russia is impossible.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized recent initiatives by European countries regarding the conditions for possible negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, calling them an “ultimatum.” According to him, dialogue with Russia is impossible due to the pressure and demands being made by Europe, writes Bloomberg.
Lavrov stated that “trust cannot be restored through ultimatums,” commenting on the position that, according to him, European leaders articulated during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London.
This refers to the agreements reached by the United Kingdom, France, and Germany following negotiations on June 7. At that time, the parties discussed possible conditions for ending the war, including demands to cease hostilities and begin negotiations along the current front line.
In response, Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s position that Europe cannot act as a neutral mediator because, in Russia’s view, it supports Ukraine, imposes sanctions, and is waging a “legal war” against Russia.
“We view Europe as a party seeking to defeat Russia,” he said, adding that negotiations with it are impossible under the current circumstances.
Separately, Lavrov warned of the risks of a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia, stating that it “could quickly escalate into an exchange of nuclear strikes with catastrophic consequences.”