Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov: The West mentioned negotiations, wanted to give Ukraine a break

Accordingly, in an interview on the program "The Big Game", Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the leaders of Western countries, when talking about the need for negotiations on Ukraine, were essentially proposing a pause in the conflict to give Kiev a chance to take advantage of a "breathing opportunity".

The Russian foreign minister recalled that in April he met with a group of American political scientists in New York, including Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haas and council official Charles Kupchan.

According to Mr. Lavrov, for some reason this meeting was asked to be kept secret. However, afterwards everything continued as usual. The Russian Foreign Minister regularly meets with political scientists in New York, and asks about the issue of peace in Ukraine.

"Political scientists agreed that peace is needed now, because no side can win," the Russian Foreign Minister recalled.

According to Mr. Lavrov, those political scientists "without hesitation" spoke about the need to sign a ceasefire agreement for a certain period of time, because Ukraine needs time to replenish its stocks of military equipment, missiles and other ammunition.

"That was in April. Now, Western leaders are openly talking about these things, proposing these very things. Moreover, it is clearly stipulated that this will not be the end of the conflict, but a pause - just like how the West needed the Minsk agreements... They are not openly talking to Russia, but only to each other" - the Russian Foreign Minister shared.

Foreign Minister Lavrov stressed that the change in tone does not change the nature of Western policy. They still see Russia as a threat.

Previously, Mr. Lavrov also affirmed that Russia has never given up on negotiations, but the longer the conflict lasts, the more difficult the conditions will be./.