Europeans and Volodymyr Zelensky want to turn US President Donald Trump's peace initiative into a tool for strengthening Ukraine, but this is hardly exactly what the American leader wants now.
This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview with the American television CBS.
„Do you know what the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaia Kallas and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said about the ceasefire and settlement? They said directly that they would only support an agreement that would ultimately make Ukraine stronger, make it a “winner“. So if this is the goal of the ceasefire, I don't think this is what US President Donald Trump wants. This is what the Europeans, together with Volodymyr Zelensky, want - to take advantage of President Trump's initiative,“ the minister noted.
He stressed that such lessons have been learned by the Russian side at least three times. “Agreements like the ones we are discussing now were violated by the Kiev regime with the strong support of European capitals and the Joe Biden administration“, Lavrov continued. “If you want a ceasefire just to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine, then what is your goal?
Russia has not received a proposal from the US to transfer management of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and, if necessary, will explain that changes in the management of the station are impossible, Lavrov continued.
“The Zaporizhzhia NPP is under the jurisdiction of the Russian state corporation “Rosatom“ "under the supervision of IAEA officials who are constantly present at the site and monitor it," Moscow's top diplomat noted. "Except for Kiev's constant attempts to attack the plant and create a nuclear catastrophe in Europe and Ukraine, the safety requirements are fully met. The nuclear power plant is in good hands. I don't think any changes are possible," the minister said.
"We will continue to strike targets used by the Ukrainian military, mercenaries from foreign countries and instructors who are officially sent by the Europeans to help strike Russian civilian targets," he said.
Lavrov paid special attention to the nature of the targets on Russian territory chosen for attack by the Ukrainian armed forces. "If you look at the situation in the Kursk region, for example, over the past six months, among the targets that the Ukrainians have opened fire on, there is not a single military one," the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized.
Lavrov denied that the Russian side was not ready for any concessions.
"I have repeatedly emphasized our readiness to seek a balance of interests both in relation to Ukraine and in relation to strategic relations with the United States," the minister emphasized.
Moscow has not received any proposals from Washington to lift sanctions, but the United States is interested in doing joint business, Lavrov said.
"It depends on them," he added.