Russia’s high diplomat mentioned Friday the Kremlin is “not prepared in any respect” for a gathering between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pouring chilly water on U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to arrange a summit.
Trump introduced Monday on social media that he was arranging a bilateral assembly between Zelenskyy and Putin, following crunch talks with European leaders on the White Home — however gave scant particulars.
However Moscow has since been reluctant to decide to a confab between the 2 leaders, with Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov saying Tuesday such a gathering would should be ready “step-by-step, step by step, ranging from the knowledgeable degree after which going by all the required phases.”
He sowed additional doubt Friday, claiming that Zelenskyy was the one not keen to barter by refusing to rule out becoming a member of NATO or concede to the Kremlin’s maximalist territorial calls for.
“Putin is able to meet with Zelenskyy when the agenda is prepared for a summit, and this agenda just isn’t prepared in any respect,” Lavrov informed U.S. channel NBC.
“Zelenskyy mentioned no to all the pieces. … How can we meet with an individual who’s pretending to be a pacesetter?” he added.
Whereas U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned earlier this week the Russian ruler had agreed to a face-to-face assembly, touting his supposed openness to talks as a breakthrough, European diplomats and leaders have voiced skepticism that Moscow is actually taken with ending the conflict and keen to barter in good religion.
“We’re forgetting that Russia has not made one single concession, and they’re those who’re the aggressor right here,” the EU’s international coverage chief Kaja Kallas mentioned Friday.
Zelenskyy accused Moscow on Friday of dragging out peace talks in a bid to carry off punishing American sanctions, which Trump has threatened to impose on Russia and its buying and selling companions if the Kremlin doesn’t take part.
“We consider that all the pieces should be finished in order that Russia can’t proceed to cover from the assembly,” the Ukrainian chief mentioned at a joint press convention with NATO Secretary-Common Mark Rutte in Kyiv. “They’re doing all the pieces in order that President Trump doesn’t impose sanctions on them.”
French President Emmanuel Macron voiced the identical view on Monday, earlier than the White Home assembly. “Do I feel that President Putin desires peace? The reply is not any. If you would like my deepest perception: No,” he mentioned.
5 EU diplomats, granted anonymity to make clear the delicate calls, informed POLITICO they largely aligned with Macron. In the meantime, Russian missiles and drones proceed to rain down on Ukrainian cities, killing civilians and pummeling infrastructure.