In a press conference held on September 23, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed skepticism regarding Ukraine’s proposed peace plan and the recent initiatives to reestablish the Black Sea grain trade. Lavrov deemed these endeavors as “not realistic” and further elucidated his perspective.
Ukraine had presented a 10-point peace blueprint, advanced by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, which included key elements such as the respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, along with the restoration of UN principles and adherence to international law. Lavrov, however, dismissed this plan, stating, “It is completely not feasible. It is not possible to implement this. It’s not realistic, and everybody understands this, but, at the same time, they say this is the only basis for negotiations.”
He cautioned that if Kyiv and its western allies maintain their current stance, the conflict could continue to persist as an unresolved battlefield issue.
Regarding the Black Sea grain initiative, Lavrov revealed that Russia had withdrawn from this endeavor due to unmet promises, including the removal of sanctions on a Russian bank and its reconnection to the global Swift payments system. He expressed his view that the recent UN proposals to revive the export corridor for Ukrainian agricultural products were “simply not realistic.”
Looking ahead, Lavrov announced his upcoming visit to Pyongyang to continue negotiations with his North Korean counterpart, following recent agreements between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Moscow.
Lavrov also criticized what he perceived as a neo-colonial mindset in the west’s efforts to garner support for Ukraine in the global south. He contrasted this approach with what he termed a “global majority” that he believed was being misled by western powers, which he described as an “empire of lies.”
This diplomatic exchange underscores the ongoing complexities and challenges in the relationship between Russia and Ukraine, as well as broader geopolitical dynamics at play in the region.
By Reuters
