MOSCOW (Shahid Ghumman): Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Moscow supported the diesel supply deal proposed by US President Donald Trump, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is asking for more weapons to attack Russian energy facilities.
Speaking to reporters after the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, Sergey Lavrov said that instead of the diesel deal, Zelensky demanded missiles for the Patriot air defense system.
According to the Russian Foreign Minister, Zelensky wants to continue targeting Russia’s energy facilities and oil refineries. He described Zelensky’s response as a direct and tough challenge to President Donald Trump.
Lavrov alleged that the Ukrainian President believes the whole world is obliged to help him, but he himself is not ready to take fair and constructive steps.
The Russian Foreign Minister made clear that Russia will not suspend the military operation in Ukraine. He said a ceasefire will not be accepted during which Ukraine is reorganized and supplied with more weapons.
He said the goals of Russia’s military operation are clear and Moscow’s position has not changed, while the position of Western countries on the Ukraine conflict has kept changing.
On the alleged Ukraine peace plan, Sergey Lavrov said Moscow has not received any formal proposal so far. According to him, Russia has seen reports published in the US media, but no plan has been handed over to Russia at the official level.
Commenting on Zelensky’s election statements, he said his actions show that he has no real interest in holding elections in Ukraine and is presenting conditions that are not acceptable.
Speaking on regional matters, Sergey Lavrov said Russia has received no request from Armenia and Azerbaijan to participate in the so-called Trump Route project, but all parties are aware of Russia’s capability and readiness to cooperate.
He proposed that the next meeting of the 3+3 regional format, comprising Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Turkiye, Iran and Georgia, could be held in Azerbaijan, and the following meeting in Yerevan.
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