Lavrov: We are ready to consult with the Trump administration / we are interested in talking with the new Syrian authorities

According to RCO News Agency, Lavrov said in a press conference for Russian and foreign media: “I very much hope that the Trump administration, including Trump’s special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Clague, will get to the root of the conflict. We are always ready to consult.”

According to Lavrov, Russia has no illusions about the future Trump administration. “It was the Americans who cut ties with Russia, and now the ball is in their court,” he added.

According to the Russian Foreign Minister, the public support of the Biden administration’s Secretary of State Anthony Blinken for the war in Ukraine is due to the perceived financial and economic benefits for the United States.

no to “cease fire”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia said that achieving the “ceasefire” desired by the West in the Ukraine conflict will lead nowhere, and Russia will not be satisfied with these futile talks about the settlement.

Lavrov said: “We cannot settle for an idle conversation. So far, all we hear is talk about the need to reach some kind of ceasefire… a ceasefire is not going anywhere… We need final legal agreements that address all conditions to ensure Russia’s security and the legitimate security interests of our neighbors. But in a situation where the impossibility of violating these agreements has been established in an international legal way.”

“No one really hides the fact that the ceasefire is necessary to buy time to pump weapons into Kiev,” the Russian foreign minister added.

According to Lavrov, Russia has no preconditions for negotiations. He also said that if Ukrainians want to have a “legitimate president”, they should hold elections.

Lavrov also said in this press conference: “The main point is not to choose a negotiating team for the Kiev regime, but to deal with the roots of this crisis, which we want to eliminate.”

He went on to say that the West failed to isolate Russia, adding: “The European Union promised to support Kiev, but nothing lasts forever. Europe has fallen prey to the US policy of eliminating all competitors. Also, China has replaced Europe and the Group of Seven in terms of trade with Russia.

The Russian Foreign Minister also said that Russia is ready to talk with Western countries. “We (Russia) are ready, as we have said many times, with all Western representatives who are ready for equal dialogue, we are looking for a balance of interests and mutually beneficial agreements,” Lavrov said.

He noted that there are such representatives, including Slovakia and Hungary. Lavrov added that other EU member states are also trying to start confidence talks with Moscow, but few of them have the courage to do so.

Dialogue with the new Syrian authorities on regional issues

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today that Russia is interested in dialogue with the new Syrian authorities on regional issues.

“Russia is in contact with the new Syrian authorities through its diplomatic mission and is currently discussing issues related to ensuring the safety of Russian citizens and the safe operation of its embassy,” Lavrov said.

Lavrov said at the press conference for Russian and foreign media: “We are interested and ready to discuss other issues of bilateral relations and issues of the regional agenda.”

The Russian Foreign Minister said that Moscow expects to resume economic cooperation with the new Syrian authorities.

The senior Russian diplomat also stated that all political and ethnic religious groups should participate in the Syrian elections and said: “Russia is ready to help the political process.”

Syria cannot be allowed to collapse

Lavrov added: “Syria must not be allowed to fall apart. “Some people like that.”

The Russian Foreign Minister added: “Syria should not be divided and Israel should not ensure its security at the expense of others. Syria cannot be allowed to collapse, despite what some want. “We also understand Türkiye’s legitimate security concerns on the Syrian border.”

At the same time, the Russian Foreign Minister said that “Ahmad al-Shora” known as “Abu Mohammad Al-Julani”, the leader of Tahrir al-Sham, who took power in Damascus, described Syria’s relations with Russia as long-term and strategic and “we support this approach and it We confirm.”

“Russia understands Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s concerns about border security, but Syria must maintain its sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity,” Lavrov said. Also, the United States has illegally occupied areas of Syria that have major oil reserves and rich soil. All countries understand the security risks that the United States poses; It is highlighted by its more than 200 military bases in different countries.

According to Lavrov, the West is pressuring the new authorities in Syria to stop cooperating with Russia, which is diplomatic rudeness.

The process of Astana and the Syrian elections

The Russian Foreign Minister also said that Russia, Turkey and Iran have agreed that the Astana format can play a useful role in the current stage after the change of power in Syria.

“The position of Türkiye, Iran and Russia is that the Astana format may play a useful role at the current stage,” Lavrov said at his press conference. Especially since Arab countries traditionally participate in its work as observers.

Sergey Lavrov also said that all political and ethnic groups should participate in the Syrian elections and that Russia is ready to facilitate the political process.

He added: “All the leading countries emphasize the need to do this in such a way that the process is inclusive so that all political and ethnic-religious groups of the Syrian people can participate in it, in the election campaigns and the elections themselves. It is a difficult process, I repeat once again, but we are ready to facilitate this process, including within the framework of the UN Security Council in the form of Astana. “The Russian Federation, together with Turkey and Iran, with the participation of a number of Arab countries, is ready to play a supporting role in consolidating all processes in Syria and organizing elections in such a way that all of them recognize them.”

France’s offer to negotiate without the presence of Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that France had offered Russia several times through channels to hold talks on Ukraine without the participation of Kiev.

Lavrov said in a press conference for Russian and foreign media: “Our French colleagues contacted us several times through channels and asked to hold a dialogue on the Ukrainian issue. By the way, without the presence of Ukraine.”

The Russian Foreign Minister said: “Such signals from Paris were issued as if it contradicted the Western law on the prohibition of talking about Ukraine without the presence of Ukraine.” At the same time, France initiates the deployment of peacekeeping forces to Ukraine and trains Ukrainian soldiers. “Such ambiguous behavior makes us not take seriously what is happening at the initiative of our French colleagues.”

Decision centers in Kyiv can be the target

Lavrov went on to say that Moscow selects targets for destruction on Ukrainian soil based on threats against Russia, and these can also be decision-making centers in Kiev.

Sergey Lavrov emphasized: “Our target is exclusively military facilities, military-industrial complex and other facilities related to the provision of the armed forces of Ukraine.”

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