Russia's Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of considering Moscow's interests in any prospective negotiations to end the fighting in Ukraine. He dismissed the planned round of peace talks as a Western strategy to garner broader international support for Kyiv.
The Foreign Minister accused Ukraine's Western allies of engaging in a significant diplomatic effort to persuade countries from the Global South to participate in discussions in Switzerland regarding a potential peace plan.
He alleged that the West is attempting to increase attendance at the planned negotiations by suggesting that participants would only focus on specific aspects of President Zelenskyy's peace plan, such as global food security.
The Foreign Minister labeled these arguments as a Western tactic to attract more hesitant countries from the Global South and gather up to 140 participants to showcase overwhelming global support for Ukraine.
He stressed that any peace talks would be futile if they did not take into account Moscow's interests, citing Russian President Putin's rationale for sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
Russia's stance is to protect its interests and prevent Ukraine from becoming a security threat by joining NATO, while Kyiv and its allies view Russia's actions as unwarranted aggression.
The Foreign Minister reiterated Russia's rejection of Zelenskyy's peace proposal, which includes demands for troop withdrawal, compensation, and facing an international tribunal.
He highlighted Zelenskyy's decree refusing talks with the current Russian leadership and suggested that the onus is on the West to make the next move.
Emphasizing the need for any potential peace agreement to respect Russia's security interests and acknowledge the 'new realities,' the Foreign Minister alluded to Moscow's territorial gains.
He stated that Russia is defending its historical presence in certain territories and expressed readiness for discussions based on justice, reality, and security interests.
Overall, Russia's position underscores the importance of recognizing its concerns and interests in any negotiations regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
