IN BRIEF: Lavrov's remarks on contacts with EU and faith in diplomacy

MOSCOW, June 24. /TASS/. Russia will not accept temporary solutions to the Ukrainian crisis, and will not give in to any ultimatums, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

According to him, the Ukrainian conflict can still be resolved through political and diplomatic means, adding, however, that Russia will no longer take anyone at their word in negotiations on Ukraine.

TASS has compiled the key statements of the foreign minister.

Ukrainian Settlement

Settling the Ukrainian conflict is possible via negotiations: "I am convinced that it is still possible to resolve the situation around Ukraine using political and diplomatic methods. [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin has repeatedly said so."

Moscow is committed to the understandings reached in Anchorage, but "the ball is not on our side of the field today, although they are increasingly trying to throw it to us from offside, to speak in World Cup terms."

Russia isn't interested in temporary solutions to the Ukrainian crisis, and will not bend to any ultimatums: "For Russia, this is a matter of principle. We will not settle for temporary or interim solutions, and we certainly will not accept any ultimatums dictated to us from outside."

Russia has proposed that Ukraine "significantly increase" the level of leadership of the negotiating delegations, as well as establish three working groups: one for humanitarian, one for political, and one for military issues.

Russia will not freeze the frontline as a condition for beginning talks: "They tell us: ‘Let's have a ceasefire along the line of contact, and then negotiations.’ No, we already did that when we agreed in Istanbul, initialed it, and as a gesture of goodwill, we stopped firing and even - as [Russian] President [Vladimir Putin] has said more than once - we withdrew units from Kiev. And there immediately appeared [former British Prime Minister] Boris Johnson [who disrupted the agreement] and Bucha."

Statements coming from European politicians about possible contacts with Russia are nonsensical and unserious: "What do they want to talk about? Russia’s unconditional surrender? This is absolutely unserious and does not match the real role that Europe plays in global affairs at all."

Trust in negotiations on Ukraine

Russia "can no longer rely on Europe's promises and expectations."

Moscow "will not take anyone at their word" in Ukraine negotiations.

Russia is "on special alert" to avoid being misled about the settlement of the crisis around Ukraine: "We are ready for negotiations, of course, but we will not allow anyone to cheat us."

Contacts with Europe

Russia has been in contact with the office of European Council President Antonio Costa: "There have been such contacts."

France and the United Kingdom also sent their own "messengers" to Moscow, and Russia received them all: "[French] President [Emmanuel] Macron publicly reprimanded Antonio Costa for his employee communicating with Moscow representatives twice, stating that that was unacceptable and that they should come together to find a solution. Hypocrisy. You see, President Macron himself has sent messengers, and they have been received. Truth be told, there have also been messengers from London."

Russia is ready to contact the European Union and listen to them if the EU adopts a constructive approach: "If Europe suddenly comes up with something truly constructive, as new people are coming to power in some countries, we will be willing to listen and make a decision based on what we hear."

Attacks on Russian regions

Ukraine would not have been able to carry out terrorist attacks on Russian territory without the help of the UK and the US: "Mr. [British Prime Minister] Keir Starmer said that negotiations were not necessary. But they [the Western countries] didn't just talk, they did. They did everything to ensure that Ukraine continued and intensified its terrorist activities. Without direct American assistance in targeting and obtaining data, it would be impossible for Ukraine to carry out the terrorist attacks on Russian territory that it is currently carrying out."

Media reports about US President Donald Trump's alleged permission for Ukraine to intensify its military operations against Russia are more "wishful thinking" than anything else.

Frozen Russian assets

The proceeds from Russia's frozen assets, which are being transferred by the West to Ukraine, are still "stolen money."

Relations with the United States

There is no progress in the dialogue with the United States about bilateral relations.

It is impossible to agree with the United States on a common agenda, but it is possible to agree on specific issues.

The United States wants to buy the European part of the Nord Stream pipelines to resell Russian gas to Europe.

Relations between Iran and the United States

Russia is ready to assist in the conclusion of a comprehensive long-term agreement between Washington and Tehran, "if our good services are needed."

The future of the dollar

The world will see that the dollar is falling: "Understanding the decline in the reputation of the dollar and other global currencies that are used as a tool for economic and financial warfare will certainly strengthen."