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Russia open to talks on Ukraine but not on ‘Zelensky formula’ — Lavrov

Sergey Lavrov also said that responsible proposals on a negotiating process should be preceded by Kiev lifting its self-ban on talks with Moscow

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. Russia is ready for talks on settling the conflict in Ukraine but will not take part in any events on the so-called Zelensky formula, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting with Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui.

"The minister reiterated the Russian side’s openness to negotiations but stressed the unacceptability of Russia’s participation in any event promoting the ‘Zelensky formula,’ regardless of how it is presented," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "Sergey Lavrov also said that responsible proposals on a negotiating process should be preceded by Kiev lifting its self-ban on talks with Moscow, the cessation of weapons supplies to Ukraine and clear signals about its readiness to take into account present-day realities and Russia’s legal interests, as [Russian] President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed."

According to the ministry, the Chinese special representative informed Lavrov about his recent European tour, which was geared to coordinate positions and assess opportunities for a political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict.

Apart from that, Lavrov and Li exchanged views "on a wide spectrum of issues of the activity of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)," the ministry said. "The focus was on practical aspects of adjusting the organization to the present-day geopolitical realities, the development of foreign policy coordination within international formats amid the growing challenges and threats to the security of the SCO member states."

Li has been on tour of Europe since March 2. First, he visited Russia and met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin. After that, he visited the EU headquarters, Poland, Ukraine, Germany, and France. This is his second round of shuttle diplomacy. In May 2023, he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, diplomats from a number of European countries, and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.

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