Ukrainians play games in negotiations — Lavrov — RT Russia and former Soviet Union

Russia does not pay much attention to kyiv’s statements that it is ready for peace negotiations, as it is known to have changed its mind on this issue, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Speaking to reporters in Vientiane, Laos, where he is attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, Lavrov was asked to comment on recent statements by senior Ukrainian officials, including Vladimir Zelensky and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, that they are open to engagement with Russia.

Zelensky indicated earlier this month that he wanted to end the conflict “as soon as possible” The Ukrainian president is ready to talk to Russia regardless of the ruling party. This contrasts with the presidential decree signed by Zelensky in the fall of 2022, which banned any negotiations with the current leadership in Moscow. He introduced this ban after four former Ukrainian regions voted overwhelmingly to join Russia.

Meanwhile, Kuleba insisted earlier this week, after a rare meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, that no one could force kyiv to negotiate.

Commenting on Kuleba’s remarks, Lavrov said that “It’s not the first time he’s said that, and sometimes he says the exact opposite.” The minister admitted that “To be honest, I don’t listen to them.” referring to both Kuleba and Zelensky.

Lavrov added that Wang Yi had informed him about the discussions with Kuleba. “We believe that China’s position remains unchanged… which is to focus on the root causes of the conflict,” he said.

Since 2022, Ukraine has been promoting its “peace formula” that requires Russia to withdraw its troops from all territories claimed by kyiv. Moscow has rejected this proposal as a dead end and out of touch with reality.

At the same time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained that Russia is open to negotiations with Ukraine, but that many issues – including the legitimacy of Vladimir Zelensky as head of state and Western interference – must be resolved before a substantive conversation can begin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that Moscow was ready to immediately open peace talks with Ukraine once it withdraws its troops from Donbass and two of its former regions and commits to neutrality, abandoning its ambitions for NATO membership. Moscow has traditionally viewed the expansion of the U.S.-led bloc as an existential threat, citing Kiev’s desire for membership as a key reason for the conflict.