Russia to Persist with Military Operations in Ukraine Despite Potential Peace Talks

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made clear that Moscow has no plans to halt its military operations in Ukraine, even if peace talks were to start. This came during an interview with the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, where Lavrov outlined Russia's stance on the conflict.

 

Lavrov's comments reflect Russia's skepticism about Kyiv's commitment to peace. He stated that hostilities will not pause even if negotiations begin, pointing out that Ukraine could use any pause to reorganize its forces. Lavrov referenced past instances, such as the 2022 Istanbul negotiations, to justify his claim.

 

He asserted that Russia will not repeat the "mistake" of pausing combat operations. At the same time, Lavrov noted that Russia is willing to negotiate, but only on terms favorable to Moscow.

 

Lavrov highlighted that the conditions on the ground in Ukraine have changed significantly, emphasizing issues like alterations to the Russian Constitution and the existence of disputed regions, which would need to be addressed in any peace talks.

 

He also dismissed the "Zelensky Formula," proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as insufficient to resolve the conflict, stating that it did not meet Russia's demands.

 

The Russian-Ukraine conflict intensified in September 2022 when Russia declared its annexation of four regions in Ukraine, despite not having full control over them. This decision, heavily criticized by Western countries and the United Nations, escalated tensions in the region.

 

Since February 2022, several rounds of peace negotiations have taken place, but none have led to a lasting agreement. Kyiv's officials refused to engage in further dialogue following Ukraine's 2022 eastern counteroffensive, questioning Russia's sincerity towards peace.

 

President Zelensky has indicated that peace talks could only begin once Russian troops withdraw completely from Ukrainian territory. In an interview with Tucker Carlson, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to negotiate, encouraging Zelensky to reconsider his position. He reiterated his openness to returning to the draft agreement from Istanbul.

 

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine dates back to 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and allegedly supported separatist groups in Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. The Moscow-backed referendum in Crimea in March 2014, which claimed over 90% support for joining Russia, was deemed illegitimate by Ukraine, the Western countries, and the United Nations.