Moscow firmly rejects EU`s role in Ukraine peace discussions

(MENAFN) Russia has firmly rejected the European Union's involvement in peace negotiations over the Ukraine conflict, with Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko citing Brussels' role in exacerbating the situation. During a meeting in Saudi Arabia between Russian and American officials on Tuesday, discussions centered on restoring bilateral relations and exploring potential negotiations to end the conflict. This move raised concerns among EU officials, who expressed a desire to be part of the talks.

Grushko expressed surprise at the EU's demand for a seat at the table, especially given its long-standing involvement in the conflict. He highlighted the EU’s role in facilitating the failed Minsk agreements of 2015, which aimed to halt fighting between Ukraine and separatist regions but ultimately failed. He also pointed out that Germany and France, which were supposed to guarantee the accords, later admitted that they used the agreements to give Ukraine time to strengthen its military.

Grushko added that the EU’s ambition to strategically defeat Russia disqualifies them from the negotiations. He suggested that the EU could contribute to the peace process by halting its military and other support for Ukraine.

Further supporting this stance, Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that the EU and the UK were incapable of playing a constructive role due to their desire to defeat Russia. Lavrov also noted that the recent Russian-American talks were merely a step towards hearing each other's positions and restoring diplomatic relations after a period of tensions.

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