Lavrov Rejects Ceasefire Pause for 51-Nation UN Meeting
Russia refuses to halt operations during talks, defying a joint statement from 51 countries urging an immediate end to aggression.
Key points
- Lavrov stated Russia will not pause military operations during any format of negotiations.
- Fifty-one countries, including EU leaders, jointly urged the Kremlin to agree to a full ceasefire.
- Ukrainian officials highlighted a humanitarian crisis in Oleshky, with 358 people needing urgent evacuation.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Wednesday that Moscow will not pause its military operations during negotiations. This declaration occurred during a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York.
The statement came as 51 countries issued a joint call for a full ceasefire. According to the Kyiv Post, this marks a significant diplomatic standoff during the fifth year of the war.
Moscow rejects negotiation pauses
Lavrov said Russia learned from bitter experience that pausing operations is risky. He argued that halting the special military operation during talks would be a mistake.
The minister also blamed Western nations for Ukraine’s current status. He suggested that Ukraine would have kept its 1991 borders if Europe had not interfered.
Ukraine condemns Russian veto power
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded sharply to Lavrov’s comments. He noted that fourteen of the fifteen Security Council members support a ceasefire.
Sybiha accused Russia of vetoing peace and illegally occupying the Soviet seat. He asked why President Putin refuses to meet President Zelensky directly.
Humanitarian crisis in Oleshky
Sybiha also highlighted the dire situation in Oleshky, Kherson region. He described the area as a death trap lacking water and medicine.
Ukraine’s human rights commissioner reported receiving 176 appeals for help. At least 358 people were verified as needing urgent safe passage from the zone.
