Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the discovery of bodies in the Ukrainian town of Bucha is a “provocation” aimed at scuppering talks between Moscow and Kyiv.
“A question arises: What purpose does this blatantly untruthful provocation serve? We are led to believe it is to find a pretext to torpedo the ongoing negotiations,” Lavrov says in a video message broadcast on Russian television.
Ukraine has proposed an international agreement with other countries guaranteeing its security in return for accepting a neutral and non-nuclear status, not joining NATO, and refusing to host foreign military bases.
According to the Ukrainian proposal, Russia would not oppose Kyiv’s admission to the European Union.
Lavrov says the situation in Bucha aims to “distract attention from the negotiation process, distract attention from the fact that the Ukrainian party… has started to row back, tried to put forward new conditions.”
But he adds that Russia is “ready” to continue the talks.
Journalists stand by a mass grave in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 4, 2022. Russia is facing a fresh wave of condemnation after evidence emerged of what appeared to be deliberate killings of civilians in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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