Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov report RIA Novosti and Rossiya 24 reported that 10 days ago, a meeting was held in complete secrecy with the participation of Western countries and some states of the “global South”, where the “peace formula” proposed by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky was discussed.
“Ten days ago, another similar meeting took place; the “seven” plus leading, developing countries, not all countries in the majority of the world participated, some declined the invitation, but took place in complete secrecy, nothing was reported about it anywhere“the diplomat remarked.
He explained that the meeting was attended by Russia’s “close allies” and “like-minded individuals”. At the same time, these participants, according to him, “did not promise to keep secrets from us on a matter that concerns the Russian Federation.”
Lavrov added that the next meeting on the “peace formula” should be held in January. “And in February there will be a world summit where this Zelensky formula will be approved,” the minister said.
“Sick Imagination”
The Russian minister said the “peace formula” proposed by the Ukrainian leader was “the fruit of a sick imagination.” The Minister of Foreign Affairs also drew attention to “vignettes” that “could not hide” the main message of Zelensky’s plan (food security, energy security, etc.): “Russia, go to the 1991 borders, give up Crimea, give it up. “Until Donbass.”
The head of the foreign policy department concluded that the West is trying to approve Zelensky’s 10 points “as is”, but the proposed plan in its current form is a “Russian-speaking hoax.”
On December 11, Bloomberg reported that Zelensky discussed his plan with Argentina’s new President Javier Miley on the day of his inauguration. The Ukrainian leader also held meetings with the presidents of Paraguay, Uruguay and Ecuador. During his meeting with Uruguayan leader Luis Lacalle Pou, the President of Ukraine highly appreciated the participation of the country’s representative in the last meeting on the implementation of the “formula” and expressed the hope that Uruguay will participate in the next meeting.
Argentina is expected to host a summit on Ukraine in early 2024.
world formula
Zelensky expressed the points of the “peace formula” in his video speech at the UN General Assembly in September 2022. There are only five dots in it. The first is sanctions against Russia, blocking trade with Moscow and the establishment of a special court. The second point is the “protection of life”, that is, the provision of military and financial assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The third point emphasized by the Ukrainian leader was the restoration of territorial integrity and security, including maritime, food and radiation safety. Fourth – security guarantees. The fifth point is determination.
It is officially known that three meetings were held last year on Ukraine’s “peace formula”. The first took place in Copenhagen in June, the second in Jeddah in August, and the third in Malta at the end of October.
The day before Zelensky statedRussia, which could not achieve a single victory on the battlefield in 2023, said that the issue of negotiations with Moscow is unimportant today.
“We have a “peace formula”. <…> When the relevant document is ready and all states unite around it, we will be able to hand it over to the Russian representatives. “If they accept, this will be a signal of readiness for negotiations,” he said.
The Ukrainian President added that “no one knows whether the war will end in 2024.”