Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Talks, Kyiv Calls Bluff

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, that Moscow is prepared to engage in peace talks with Kyiv without any preconditions.

This statement was released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry following the meeting between Lavrov and Wang Yi in Rio de Janeiro during the BRICS summit, CE Report quotes Ukrinform.

During the discussions, Lavrov briefed Wang Yi on the latest developments concerning the "Ukrainian crisis" - a term used by Moscow and Beijing to describe Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.

Lavrov stated that Russia seeks to solve the root causes of the "crisis" and reiterated Moscow's willingness to negotiate without preconditions.

Additionally, Lavrov shared information on Russia's announcement of a three-day "truce" in honor of Victory Day on May 9.

In response, Wang Yi reaffirmed China's commitment to peace and emphasized the importance of promoting negotiations to resolve conflicts.

The narrative of “resolving the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis” is a creation of Russian propaganda. It serves as a tool for Putin and his regime to justify their war of aggression against Ukraine, aimed at destroying Ukrainian statehood and the Ukrainian people, and restoring the Russian Empire. The exact meaning of the “root causes of the crisis” remains unclear, as Russian officials deliberately avoid providing specifics and interpret the term at their own discretion.

Lavrov’s claim that Russia is ready to negotiate with Kyiv without preconditions is another example of propaganda. Even for the 30-day ceasefire proposed by the Trump administration in early March, Putin introduced several conditions that he insisted must be met before agreeing to even a temporary suspension of hostilities.

Putin announced a “truce” from May 8 to 10 in honor of Victory Day, a significant holiday in Russia. For this period, all hostilities on the part of the Russian Federation will allegedly be suspended.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that a ceasefire does not need to wait until May 8, as Putin proposed, but can and should be implemented immediately.