Russian minister says end of sanctions is part of peace deal with Ukraine

In statements released early Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said lifting sanctions against Russia was part of the “difficult” but ongoing peace talks between Moscow and Ukraine.

Kyiv warned on Friday that talks to end the Russian occupation, which are now in its third month, are in danger of collapsing.

“Currently, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations are discussing every day a possible draft agreement via videoconference,” Lavrov told China’s official Xinhua news agency published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website. Said.

Since the invasion began on February 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has insisted that Western sanctions against Russia should be tightened and cannot be part of the negotiations.

While Ukraine and Russia have not held face-to-face peace talks since March 29, Ukraine’s claims that Russian troops have committed atrocities by withdrawing from areas near Kyiv have spoiled the mood. Moscow denied the allegations.

Moscow describes its actions in Ukraine as a “special operation” to demilitarize and “deaziz” its neighbor. Ukraine and the West say that Russia has launched a war of aggression without reason.

“The agenda of the negotiations includes, among others, de-Nazis, the recognition of new geopolitical realities, the lifting of sanctions, the status of the Russian language,” Lavrov said. said.

“We are in favor of continuation of the negotiations, even if it is difficult,” Lavrov said. said.

Ukraine’s western allies imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow. They froze about half of Russia’s state gold and foreign exchange reserves, hitting the Russian economy and bringing it to the brink of sovereign default.