“All the problems come from the Ukrainian side which categorically refuses negotiations and puts forward claims that are manifestly unrealistic and not in line with the situation,” he said.
He claimed to have meant it to French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during “short conversations” during the G20.
According to him, “the settlement process (of the conflict) is hampered by Ukraine”, a country which Russia invaded on February 24th.
Ukraine demands the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory and the return of its territorial integrity, while Moscow claimed the annexation of four Ukrainian regions at the end of September, in addition to the Crimean peninsula annexed in 2014.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told him following these annexations that he would not negotiate with Vladimir Putin.
Military counter-offensives have enabled Ukraine, armed by its Western allies, to reconquer lost territories, forcing Russia into humiliating retreats.
Mr. Lavrov also denounced the “Russophobic” character of Mr. Zelensky’s speech before the G20.
Sergei Lavrov also once again accused the West of waging a “hybrid war” against Russia using Ukraine.
He repeated that Moscow had been forced to launch its offensive against its neighbor to defend itself and protect the Russian-speaking populations.
The head of Russian diplomacy also indicated that, according to him, the United States was not preparing peace negotiations on Ukraine.
“Regarding reports that the Americans are planning talks, these rumors appear regularly and then disappear,” he said.
