Lavrov is offended that Zelenskyy does not listen to advice of West
Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, who constantly called Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, a "puppet of the West," this time took offence that Zelenskyy allegedly no longer listens to his "masters".
Source: Press conference of Lavrov on 15 November
Quote from Lavrov: "Regarding signals to Zelenskyy from the West. Rumours are spreading that the US administration is telling Zelenskyy to be more compliant. I have drawn one conclusion from Zelenskyy’s speech at the G20 Summit, that he is not listening to any advice from the West [regarding negotiations with Russia – ed]. I won't go into detail, but his rhetoric was bellicose, Russophobic, and aggressive."
Details: Lavrov was offended that Zelenskyy spoke on record for 20 minutes, while other participants of the summit were given no more than three minutes, and "it was impossible to interrupt him, and they probably did not want to turn off the recording".
He also drew attention to Zelenskyy's phrase, which allegedly "best characterised the content" of his speech. It was said that "the Allied landing in Normandy in 1944 was a turning point in the Second World War". Lavrov said that journalists can draw their own conclusions.
At the same time, the representative of Russia once again stated that "the EU and NATO have long been hybrid participants in the hybrid war in Ukraine".
He also claimed that Russia "has repeatedly confirmed through the president's mouth that it does not refuse negotiations," and Ukraine is refusing, having even passed legislation declaring that it will not negotiate with Russian dictator Putin.
Lavrov has traditionally threatened that "the longer [Ukraine – ed.] refuses, the harder it will be to come to an agreement".
He called Ukraine's conditions for negotiations "deliberately unrealistic and inadequate in this situation".
Lavrov noted that he had discussed this topic "during a brief contact" on the sidelines of the G20 with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
According to Lavrov, Macron "confirmed his commitment to continue contacts with Putin in order to find some agreements that will resolve the situation."
Previously: The Wall Street Journal cited its sources, saying that Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor to President Joe Biden, recommended President Zelenskyy’s team to start contemplating realistic conditions for negotiations with the Russian Federation, including the revision of Ukraine-stated intention to liberate Crimea.
Background:
- On 9 November, Sergei Surovikin, the Commander-in-chief of the Russian occupation forces in Ukraine, said that the Russian army was leaving Kherson.On 11 November, Defence Intelligence reported that the city of Kherson was back under the control of Ukraine, and units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were entering the city. On 12 November, the legitimate Kherson Oblast State and Military Administrations, as well as the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police, started working in the city.
- Ben Hogdes, the former commanding general of US Army Europe claims that Ukraine could liberate Mariupol and Melitopol before January, and then teh campaign to liberate Crimea wound begin.
- Mykhailo Podoliak, Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office of Ukraine, believes that Russia will get down to negotiations or withdraw its troops from Ukraine after the liberation of Donetsk or Luhansk.
- On 14 November, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the liberated city of Kherson, stating that Ukraine was interested in peace in all of its territories, and it did not care about other states’ territories.
- Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, pointed out that Ukraine will not stop on the path towards liberating its territories under any circumstances, and will not make any compromises.
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