Lavrov accused the West of intending to resolve the Ukrainian conflict “on the battlefield”

The West intends to resolve the confrontation in Ukraine “on the battlefield,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, the minister recalled that on March 29, at a meeting in Istanbul, Russia was proposed the principles for resolving the conflict, and Moscow accepted these proposals without changes, and also handed them over to the Ukrainian side. According to him, after that, events took place in the Ukrainian village of Bucha, connected with the killings of the local population, and the list of victims was not handed over to the Russian side.

“And then the Americans told Ukraine that it was not necessary to agree to agreements with Russia,” Lavrov said, explaining this by the intention to strengthen the negotiating positions of the Ukrainian side due to successes on the battlefield.

Lavrov also noted the statements of the head of EU diplomacy, Joseph Borrell, about the need to “resolve the conflict on the battlefield with the victory of Ukraine.” According to him, British leaders Boris Johnson and Liz Truss made similar statements, also calling for the return of Crimea by force.

“What kind of negotiations can we talk about?” Lavrov said.

Earlier, Russian representatives announced their readiness for negotiations, and also that their delay would only complicate the situation. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said he was not yet ready for negotiations.