Lavrov threatens Kyiv: meet Moscow’s demands
Moscow, Dec 27 (EFE).- Russia’s foreign minister gave Kyiv an ultimatum: meet Moscow’s demands or else they will be taken care of by Russian forces.
Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian state-owned agency TASS late on Monday that there was “little left to do” and Kyiv should comply with Moscow’s claims “in an amicable way.”
He added: “Otherwise, the Russian Army will deal with this issue.”
Lavrov said Kyiv was “well aware” of the Kremlin’s terms to end the conflict, which include accepting Russia’s annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, partially occupied by its army.
As for how long the conflict is to continue, Lavrov said that “the ball is on the court’s side of the (Kyiv) regime and Washington, which stands behind it.
“They can put an end at any time to this senseless resistance,” he added.
Lavrov’s comments were made one day after Russian president Vladimir Putin claimed he was open to peace talks with Ukraine and accused Kyiv of refusing to negotiate.
“It’s not us who refuse talks, it’s them,” said Putin.
Kyiv has stated that it will not sit at the negotiating tables until Russia withdraws from all of its territory, including the Crimean peninsula. EFE
mos/aef/jt
