UNITED NATIONS, September 23. /TASS/. Russia will not give Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky any ‘engagements’ to lift Kiev's ban on talks with Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
"[Zelensky] has not yet canceled [the decree banning talks with Russia]. No one is going to give him any engagements," he said. "Zelensky and all those who supervise him in Washington, London, and Brussels are saying with one voice: 'There is no other basis for peace than Zelensky's formula.'" And Zelensky's formula, you can describe it in different ways, but it is absolutely unworkable. It is simply unworkable, and everybody knows it," the top diplomat added.
He pointed out that Russia draws conclusions that no one wants to show understanding for what is happening in Ukraine, and when the West says that the conflict should be resolved on the battlefield, let it be done on the battlefield.
"[The West says that] Russia must be defeated on the battlefield altogether. That is what we hear as facts and draw conclusions that nobody wants to earnestly show their understanding of the situation, including those who do understand it but do not actually want to make it public," Lavrov said. "And under these circumstances, if it is on the battlefield, so be it on the battlefield, come on," the top diplomat added.