French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian accused Russia of “pretending to negotiate” a ceasefire with Ukraine on Thursday, continuing the offensive in neighboring countries that began on February 24.
Le Drian wrote to Le Parisien newspaper “Russian logic (...) is based on a common trilogy: indiscriminate bombing, humanitarian 'corridors' (...), conversations that end no more than pretending to be negotiating.
Russia and Ukrainians continued to negotiate on Wednesday. Moscow stated that the talks were focused on the future state of neutrality in Ukraine according to the model of Sweden or Austria.On the other hand, Kiev rejects this comparison.
Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky has already expressed his willingness to abandon Ukraine's accession to NATO, which is one of the main arguments put forward by Russia to start an invasion.
“Russia has chosen to continue using weapons,” said Le Drian, who “refuses” the ceasefire “for the time being,” emphasized Moscow's “surrender to Ukraine” and “maximalist” demands.
LV-CY/bl