MOSCOW, March 25. /TASS/. Europe is "inciting" Vladimir Zelensky, and its speculations about deploying peacekeepers in the territories still under Kiev's control are aimed at "perpetuating the Nazi regime," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in an interview with TV Channel One.
"First of all, Zelensky himself, after insulting [US President Donald] Trump in the White House, sought solace in London. Upon returning to Kiev, he made even more brazen statements, including rejecting any neutral status and dismissing discussions about territorial compromises - saying, 'No, give us everything.' In this context, it becomes evident that Europe not only disregards the analysis put forth by Trump and his team (no NATO, territorial matters should be negotiated) but also seeks to incite Zelensky himself," Lavrov pointed out.
"After all, when they speak of these ostensibly peacekeeping forces, they imply that at least the part of Ukraine currently controlled by the Kiev regime, or that will be controlled at the time of any agreement, must urgently be taken over by the British and the French. These so-called security forces would serve to entrench the Nazi regime, enforcing a ban on anything that reminds people of Russian roots," Lavrov emphasized.
"It was said by both Trump and his team that [Ukraine as part of] NATO is taboo, territories should be discussed because it's not about some area of land, it's about the people who live there and who have unequivocally declared that they pin their future on Russia. The issue on the agenda is this: no weapons should be supplied there," he added.
The Russian-US consultations in Riyadh lasted more than 12 hours. The Russian delegation was headed by Grigory Karasin, the chairman of the Federation Council’s committee on international affairs, and Sergey Beseda, an advisor to the FSB director. The US delegation included Andrew Peek, senior director for Europe at the National Security Council, Michael Anton, the director of policy planning at the Department of State, and assistants to the special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.