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| Russian Official Gennady Gatilov Reveals Possibility of Ending War In Ukraine |
Moscow - Western countries are maintaining the conflict in Ukraine to cause more damage to Russia, but the longer the war goes on, the harder it is to end with a peaceful solution. The statement was made by Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov. "Ukraine's current position makes diplomatic contact with Russia impossible," Gennady Gatilov told the Financial Times on Sunday (21/8/2022).
According to him, the United States and its allies are using hostilities in Ukraine as pressure against Russia. "As a means of isolation Russia undermines our position, economically, politically," he said. "As a result, Kiev broke off direct talks with Russia in March, promising a possible resolution of the conflict," the diplomat said.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenskyy claimed talks with Russia were no longer possible after accusing Russia in April of committing war crimes in the town of Bucha near Kiev. Russia denies the accusations.
Zelensky has repeatedly said he is ready to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict, but will do so only after all Russian troops have retreated to their pre-2014 positions.
According to Gatilov, Moscow believes this shows there is no “practical platform” for the Putin-Zelensky meeting. "Right now, I don't see the possibility of diplomatic contact," Gatilov told British newspapers.
He explained, “And the more the conflict goes on, the harder it is to have a diplomatic solution.” "Russia's relations with Western countries are also virtually non-existent, and the delegation it leads has no formal or personal contact with any of its Western counterparts," he said. "Russia believes that the United States does not care about the interests of its Russian neighbors and wants to fight Russia to the very end of the Ukrainian people," the diplomat said.