New York, Sept 23. (dpa/GNA) – Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, on Wednesday again rejected calls for a ceasefire in Moscow’s war on Ukraine, during a meeting of the UN Security Council.
Lavrov accused Europe of seeking a pause in the fighting, to “replenish” Ukraine’s military arsenals. Moscow was instead seeking a “long-term peace deal” to end the conflict, as previously outlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lavrov said.
He portrayed Russia’s invasion, which Moscow calls a “special military operation,” as necessary to protect its security interests and the rights of Russians in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, responded by reiterating that Kiev was ready for an immediate and complete ceasefire, without preconditions, provided Moscow also observed it.
Ukraine was also prepared for partial ceasefires covering energy facilities or grain exports, Sybiha said, adding that 14 of the 15 members of the Security Council supported such proposals, including the United States and China.
The Trump administration has recently floated a moratorium between Russia and Ukraine on attacks against energy facilities, but Moscow has repeatedly rejected the proposal.
GNA