MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Russia is open for settling the conflict in Ukraine by peaceful means but the West and Kiev are fixated on the unacceptable Zelensky formula, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Brazilian newspaper O Globo on Wednesday.

"Russia is open for settling the conflict peacefully. However, our opponents both in Kiev and in the West are fixated on advancing the Vladimir Zelensky formula that issues an unacceptable ultimatum to Russia, and flatly reject other initiatives, including that put forward by Brazil," the top diplomat pointed out.

"For the beginning, Kiev needs to lift its ban on dialogue with Moscow, which it imposed for itself," Lavrov said.

"We appreciate Brazil’s willingness to assist political-diplomatic settlement. In April 2023, Brazilian President Lula da Silva suggested setting up ‘a group of friends for settlement,’" the Russian foreign minister said.

"We paid close attention to the initiative of Brazilian friends," he added.