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Zakharova dismisses Western claims talks on Ukraine cannot be held without ceasefire

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman reiterated the government’s position that Europe only wants a ceasefire in order to provide the Ukrainian army with a breather

MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has rejected the idea that for Ukraine talks to take place, a ceasefire must be called, viewing this as the West's way of rearming Ukraine to keep fighting Russia, not seeking peace.

"What we are hearing from the West, the formula they are promoting. about the impossibility of negotiations in conditions of war, all this, of course, does not stand up to any criticism. We have heard all this before, and we’ve already gone over all this," the diplomat said at a briefing.

Zakharova reiterated the Russian government’s position that Europe only wants a ceasefire to provide the Ukrainian army with a breather so that it can reload and continue its confrontation with Russia anew.

"The crimes of the Kiev regime continue. Let the Westerners take note of this as they claim that negotiations cannot be conducted in conditions of a war. So who's waging war here? Who commits daily crimes against the civilian population? Let Paris, Berlin, London, and the Brussels collective keep this in mind," she said.

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Foreign policy Ukraine Maria Zakharova

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