Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today that he sees no point in European participation in peace talks on Ukraine, accusing European politicians of wanting to "continue the war", reported Agence France-Presse, quoted by BTA
Lavrov expressed this position on the eve of his visit to Saudi Arabia, where he will meet with US officials. At the same time, European leaders are gathering today in Paris for an extraordinary summit on Ukraine.
"I don't know what (European countries) will do at the negotiating table. If they want to sit at it with the aim of continuing the war, why should they be invited", said the head of Russian diplomacy. Lavrov pointed out that Europe had "its chance" to resolve the conflict, but that it has failed to do so.
The United States has said it wants both Russia and Ukraine to make concessions if peace talks are to take place. However, Lavrov stressed that Moscow will not give up territories it has captured in eastern and southern Ukraine and that even the "thought" of such an option has been ruled out during the negotiations.
In 2022, the Kremlin said it had annexed four Ukrainian regions - Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia, although it does not have full control over them.