Kathmandu: Russia is ready to resume negotiations on the Ukraine conflict if the other side is prepared to return to the negotiating table, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at an ambassadors’ roundtable on the Ukraine settlement.
Lavrov said Moscow is open to both bilateral and trilateral talks but would not suspend its military operation during negotiations. He also said Russia would seek the return of its gold and foreign-currency reserves held in Western countries.
Lavrov criticized the European Union’s approach to the conflict and accused European countries of obstructing previous diplomatic efforts. He also said Russia has not rejected European proposals for communication channels with Moscow.
Lavrov further announced that he plans to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss Ukraine.
The remarks come amid renewed diplomatic efforts, with Russia and the United States continuing discussions over possible negotiations involving Ukraine.
