Russian Foreign Minister reiterates Putin's words about negotiations with Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it clear that there can be no negotiations with Kiev after Ukrainian troops entered Russia's Kursk region, state news agency TASS quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as saying on August 19.

"The president said very clearly that after the attacks on the Kursk region, any negotiations are impossible. The president also said something very important that I would like to note here: we will soon make an assessment of this situation," Lavrov said in an interview with the "Moscow.Kremlin.Putin" program on the Rossiya-1 TV channel.

An excerpt of the interview was posted by Rossiya-1 presenter Pavel Zarubin on his Telegram channel, TASS reports.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Photo: EurAsia Daily

Mr Putin's top diplomat dismissed reports of contacts ahead of potential talks with Kiev, brokered by Qatar and Türkiye, as mere rumours.

“As for the rumors that have been circulating recently about some secret contacts in preparation for Qatar-mediated negotiations on issues related to the Russian and Ukrainian energy infrastructure, or the rumors that Türkiye is planning to try to become a mediator in the field of food security in the context of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, you should understand the real goals of such plans. This was done after the conference in Burgenstock (Switzerland), where it was decided to create three working groups – on energy, on food in the context of safe navigation and on humanitarian issues such as prisoner exchange,” Lavrov explained.

According to the Russian Foreign Minister, the entire process within the framework of the conference on Ukraine in Switzerland, where the three working groups were established, is unacceptable for Moscow because it is aimed at promoting Mr. Zelensky's formula as an ultimatum.

On the ground, Ukrainian forces are advancing in the Kursk region amid fighting after launching a surprise military operation there nearly two weeks ago. But Ukraine also remains under pressure on the eastern (Donbass) front as Russian forces close in on the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, a key military hub.

By launching an operation into Russia's Kursk region, Kiev appears to have multiple goals with the offensive, from boosting morale after months of tension to stretching Moscow's resources.

Mr. Zelensky on August 18 announced for the first time that the strategic ambition of the campaign includes creating a “buffer zone” on Russian territory to prevent cross-border attacks by the enemy.

Minh Duc (According to TASS, CNN)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/ngoai-truong-nga-nhac-lai-loi-ong-putin-noi-ve-dam-phan-voi-ukraine-204240820100601516.htm