The war of words between Russia and Ukraine escalated before the end of the year.
Russia’s powerful foreign minister gives Ukraine an ultimatum, the news agency writes, among other things Reuters Tuesday morning.
The demand is that Ukraine must give up areas controlled by Russian forces.
The point is simple: it would be in their interest to implement the proposals. Otherwise, the matter will be decided by the Russian army, according to the foreign minister.
Lavrov’s move comes a day after President Putin confirmed that he is open to negotiations.
– It is not true that Russia will negotiate
Ukrainian leaders reacted instantly.
– They regularly say that they are ready for negotiations, which is not true. Because everything they do on the battlefield proves otherwise, says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov says it is up to the regime in Kyiv to implement the Russian proposals.
– Lavrov says that our proposals for demilitarization and denazification of the territories controlled by the regime, the elimination of threats to Russia’s security emanating from them, including from our new lands, are known to the enemy.
There was heavy fighting in Ukraine this winter. The photo from Bakhmut on December 16 shows Ukrainian forces firing artillery.
Photo: Libkos/AP
Ukraine has made progress on the battlefield this winter, partially pushing Russian forces out of the Kharkiv and Kherson regions.
President Zelensky reiterated that the goal is to restore all regions occupied by Russian forces, including Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014.
Both sides make demands that they know the other side will not accept.
Kuleba: – We can win in 2023
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says in an interview with the news agency News agency That Ukraine will do everything to win the war in 2023.
Kuleba adds that diplomacy always plays an important role.
– Every war ends in a diplomatic way, he says.
Ukraine’s foreign minister said he believes the country can win the war in 2023. He wants a summit under the auspices of the United Nations.
Photo: Efrem Lukatsky/AP
– Every war ends as a result of actions taken on the battlefield and at the negotiating table, adds the foreign minister.
The Ukrainian government aims to arrange a UN-sponsored summit by the end of February. He writes that Russia is unlikely to be included News agency.
Kuleba says the government wants to hold a so-called peace summit by the end of February.
He wants the UN summit
– The United Nations may be the best arena for holding this summit, because it is not about serving a particular country. It’s really about getting everyone involved, Koleba says.
Ukraine wants UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as a mediator.
Photo: Andrei Ivanov/AFP
When asked if they would invite the invading power Russia to such a summit, Kuleba said that Russia would first have to be put on trial for war crimes.
It is a process that usually takes a long time.
Kuleba sees UN Secretary-General António Guterres as a potential mediator in any future peace talks, NTB writes.
At the same time, Kuleba downplayed recent statements by the Russian authorities that they were ready for negotiations.
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