Lavrov Dismisses Ukraine's Peace Talks Statements

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has dismissed Ukraine's statements on peace talks, claiming they are contradictory and unworthy of attention. He criticized Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba's remarks made during a visit to China, where Kuleba stated that Ukraine could not be forced to negotiate and emphasized China's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity. Lavrov noted that Kuleba has previously made contradictory statements about negotiations, referencing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's earlier willingness to engage in talks with Russia. He also mentioned that during discussions with his Chinese counterpart, it was clear that China's position on the conflict remains unchanged, insisting on a negotiation format acceptable to all parties. Meanwhile, Zelensky has indicated that Russia should be included in future peace discussions, following their exclusion from a summit in Switzerland. Lavrov's comments reflect ongoing tensions and skepticism regarding Ukraine's approach to reaching a peace settlement.