Russia categorically refuses to consider any options for deploying European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, TASS reports, BTA reports.
According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, no one has asked Moscow about this issue and the statements of Western representatives are only aimed at inflaming the conflict. He made these comments during a press conference after his visit to Qatar.
"We cannot consider any options. I don't know what exactly French President Emmanuel Macron said, but he was not convincing in his statement in Washington. According to US President Donald Trump, the deployment of peacekeeping forces is possible only with the consent of both sides - obviously meaning us and Ukraine. But no one asks us about it," Lavrov stressed.
The Russian minister said that the approach of European countries, especially France and Britain, is actually aimed at escalating the conflict and stopping any efforts to resolve it. Lavrov described Macron's proposal for an urgent ceasefire and the deployment of peacekeeping forces, followed by a discussion of territorial issues, as a "cunning".
"We cannot strive for an agreement that will only serve the purpose of pumping Ukraine with weapons," he added. According to Lavrov, talks about peacekeeping forces are meaningless if the root causes of the conflict are not addressed.
He pointed out that the real cause of the conflict is not the absence of peacekeeping forces, but the fact that Ukraine is aimed at joining NATO, with the goal of creating a military infrastructure aimed at Russia. Lavrov also said that Russia opposes the destruction of the rights of Russian speakers and Russians in Ukraine.
He summarized that the deployment of peacekeeping forces would not solve the main problems, but rather talk about the roots of the conflict and the rights of people who are under the racist laws of the Ukrainian government.
Meanwhile, the "Financial Times" reported that Macron had failed to convince Trump to support the deployment of European troops in Ukraine after the end of the conflict.