Russia to continue talks with Ukraine despite provocations — Lavrov

Moscow will continue talks with Kiev despite provocations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

“Despite all provocations, the Russian delegation will continue the negotiation process, promoting our draft agreement that clearly and fully explains our initial key positions and demands,” the top diplomat pointed out.

Lavrov noted that Kiev had presented a draft agreement on April 6, which marked a departure from provisions recorded at a meeting held in Istanbul on March 29. The Russian top diplomat said that the Ukrainian authorities’ inability to make agreements pointed to their plans to prolong and even undermine the negotiations.

“We view it as proof of the fact that the Kiev regime is controlled by Washington and its allies, who are pushing [Ukrainian] President Zelensky to continue military activities,” Lavrov concluded.

The Russian and Ukrainian delegations held another round of talks in Istanbul on March 29.

Head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky said after the meeting that Kiev had presented written proposals for an agreement between the parties.

Medinsky stated that Moscow would consider the proposals and put forward its own initiatives, while Russian troops would reduce their activities in the Kiev and Chernigov areas.

In addition, according to him, Moscow suggested that a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Vladimir Zelensky of Ukraine be held simultaneously with the initialing of a peace treaty by the two countries’ foreign ministers.

TASS