MOSCOW, December 6. /TASS/. There are several channels of interaction, not advertised or publicized, between Russia and the United States, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with noted US journalist Tucker Carlson.
"There are several channels, but mostly on exchange of people who serve terms in Russia and in the United States. There were several swaps," the top Russian diplomat said, replying to a question on the matter.
"There are also ‘channels’ which are not advertised or publicized, but basically the Americans send through these channels the same message which they send publicly. ‘You have to stop, you have to accept the way which will be based on the Ukrainian needs and position.’ They support this absolutely pointless ‘peace formula’ by Vladimir Zelensky, which was additioned recently by ‘victory plan.’ They held several series of meetings, Copenhagen format, Burgenstock. And they brag that first half of next year they will convene another conference and they will graciously invite Russia that time. And then Russia would be presented an ultimatum. All this is seriously repeated through various confidential channels," Lavrov added.
That said, he noted that nowadays, Russia hears "something different, including Vladimir Zelensky's statements that we can stop now at the line of engagement, line of contact." "The Ukrainian government will be admitted to NATO, but NATO guarantees at this stage would cover only the territory controlled by the government, and the rest would be subject to negotiations. But the end result of these ‘negotiations’ must be the total withdrawal of Russia from Ukrainian soil. Leaving Russian people to the Nazi regime, which exterminated all the rights of the Russian and Russian-speaking citizens of their own country," Lavrov explained.