MOSCOW: Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday accused Western countries of wanting a ceasefire in Ukraine so they could rearm Kyiv with advanced weapons.
Talk of negotiations for a ceasefire or peace deal in the three-year conflict has come to the fore following Donald Trump’s victory in last month’s US presidential election.
The West is “starting to talk about a ceasefire as a means to give Ukraine a respite, and give themselves the opportunity to once again pump Ukraine up with modern long-range weapons,” Lavrov said during a meeting in Moscow with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto, AFP reported.
“This, of course, is not a path to lasting peace,” Lavrov said as quoted by TASS news agency.
Lavrov was speaking as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was on a surprise visit to Kyiv, where he held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Scholz became the first major Western leader to hold direct talks with Russian President Putin in more than a year last month, in which he urged the Kremlin to be open to striking a deal with Kyiv.
Putin has publicly demanded that Ukraine cedes swathes of territory across its east and south as a precondition for a ceasefire.
Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out giving up land for peace throughout the conflict, though he said Sunday that his country needed security guarantees from NATO before any talks with Russia.
On the occasion of Scholz visit, the Ukrainian President on Monday said that Kyiv needs more weapons and stronger diplomatic backing to reach a “just peace” with Russia.
Scholz vowed on Monday to prevent Russia from dictating the terms of peace, seeking to alleviate fears that Trump may soon force Ukraine to accept a deal favourable to Moscow.
In a press conference with Scholz, Zelensky said Ukraine’s allies “can only ensure peace through strength, the strength of our weapons, our diplomacy, and our cooperation.”
“It is fundamental for us that Germany as a leader does not reduce (support) next year, including financial support,” he added, noting the importance of a “just peace”.
In Kyiv, Scholz that in efforts to reach “a fair, just and lasting peace”, no decisions must be taken without Kyiv and all sides must adhere to the motto of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine”.
ALSO READ: Zelensky Says War Could End If Ukraine Comes Under NATO
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said that Moscow is ready for an honest discussion. “We are ready for honest talks, as President [of Russia Vladimir] Putin said. Although he suggested that Zelensky’s sponsors first talk him into revoking his decree banning any talks with the Putin government. As for us, we are ready for talks if they take into account the legitimate interests of all parties,” he said as quoted by TASS news agency.
“The West – Brussels, London, Paris, Washington are starting to float the idea of a ceasefire as a means to give a respite to Ukraine and hence grant themselves a possibility to flood Ukraine with advanced long-range weapons again,” he said as quoted by TASS agency.
“It looks like Western leaders are doing [Vladimir] Zelensky’s bidding, giving in to all of his whims,” Lavrov said.
