Tripartite summit with Ukraine, Russia: ‘There is nothing to replace the negotiation process’

* Photo: Cem Özdel - Antalya / AA

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu held a summit in Turkey's Antalya in the morning hours today (March 10).

Lavrov and Kulaba spoke to the press afterwards.

'We addressed humanitarian issues'

Taking the floor at the press conference, Lavrov said that especially humanitarian issues were addressed at the tripartite summit.

"We would support every initiative to solve the problems that lie at the root of the Ukraine crisis," said Foreign Minister Lavrov.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the meeting with his counterpart from Ukraine showed there is nothing to replace the negotiation process.

"Foreign colleagues, including the European Union (EU), act dangerously by delivering deadly weapons to Ukraine," said Minister Sergey Lavrov, adding that "those who send weapons to Ukraine and encourage mercenaries will be responsible for their actions."

Lavrov also noted that Moscow gave the United Nations (UN) evidence that bombed maternity hospital in Mariupol was taken by far-right Azov battalion. He added that the "Western media twisted facts about bombed maternity house in Mariupol, as there were no patients there."

Lavrov further claimed that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested meeting to "show off," not to address problems.

Lavrov said that "Putin is not refusing to hold a meeting with Zelensky but some preparatory work needs to be done": "Putin never avoids contacts. We just don't want these contacts to happen (just) for words."

The Minister further claimed that "the US set up dozens of labs in Ukraine aiming to create 'ethnically engineered biological weapons'."

"Russia would not have started military operation in Ukraine if the West had not rejected our proposal on security guarantees", said Lavrov, adding that "everything Russian was and is being attacked in Ukraine."

"Ukraine made unreasonable demands on purpose so it could accuse Russia of derailing peace talks," claimed Russia's Lavrov further.

"Moscow never used oil, gas as weapons, energy crisis created by talk of embargo on use of Russian hydrocarbons," said Lavrov.

The Minister added that "he does not, and does not want to, believe in the possibility of a nuclear war." He said, "We will cope with sanctions in such a way that we will never depend on Westerners. We will take such measures so we will never face a similar situation again."

'No progress on ceasefire'

Taking the floor afterwards, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said that "Russia is in no position to establish a ceasefire as Russia is seeking surrender from Ukraine," adding that "no progress was made on a ceasefire as Lavrov was not authorized to discuss the matter."

Ukraine's Foreign Minister said that "they agreed with the Russian side to continue efforts to seek a solution to the humanitarian situation on the ground." "We cannot stop war and will not be able to do so unless 'aggressor country' wants this," said the Minister, meaning Russia.

He said that "NATO is not ready to act collectively," adding that "so far, the Ukrainian army and people are ensuring their country's security."

"Basic message from Russia's Lavrov was that Moscow will continue aggression until Ukraine gives in to its demands," said the Minister. He added, "I came here as Ukraine's foreign minister with authority to make decisions seeking to find solutions, however Lavrov came only to listen."

Stoltenberg to come to Turkey on March 11

The NATO Secretary General will visit Turkey tomorrow (March 11).

NATO has made the following statement about the visit:

"On Friday, 11 March 2022, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will visit Antalya, Turkey.

"Mr. Stoltenberg will meet with the President of Turkey, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and with the Minister of Foreign affairs, Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

"Mr Stoltenberg will also take part in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum." (AS/SD)