Ukraine has shown no desire to start a "serious conversation" about a peace settlement and has even blocked a nearly reached agreement on a safety zone around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday following talks with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, in Moscow.
Lavrov called the version that some "pro-Ukrainian group" was involved in the undermining of the Nord Streams "shameful," stressed that the part of the grain deal related to the removal of obstacles for Russian exports was not implemented, and also recalled the cooperation between Moscow and Riyadh for the sake of stability in its global energy market.
TASS compiled the main topics of the meeting and the press conference of the ministers that followed.
Russia-Saudi Arabia cooperation
Moscow and Riyadh agreed to continue coordinating actions within the OPEC+ framework to "ensure proper balance and stability in the global energy market" and to expand trade turnover. The cooperation between the two countries "is not subject to conjunctural fluctuations, to some irrelevant considerations."
Russia welcomes Saudi Arabia's interest in actively participating not only in regional but also global issues, Lavrov noted. His colleague assured that Riyadh appreciates the level of coordination with Moscow and reiterated the kingdom's "determined determination to continue cooperation with Russia and strengthen relations in all spheres."
Situation in Ukraine
Moscow is grateful to the Saudi side for its "balanced position, for its sincere interest in helping advance on the path to a political settlement" of the situation in Ukraine, Lavrov said. The Saudi foreign minister confirmed that his country was ready to make every effort for such a settlement and the resolution of humanitarian problems.
He also recalled the kingdom's active participation in the prisoner exchange between Moscow and Kiev – one of them took place "under the personal supervision of the crown prince." The Russian minister agreed that the agreements of the exchange "to a large extent <...> were reached with the assistance of Saudi Arabia and a number of other Arab states," for which Russia is grateful.
Russia still sees "no desire on the part of Ukraine to start a serious conversation," and "the Western masters [of Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky keep saying that Russia must first be defeated on the battlefield," Lavrov stated.
Earlier, the Saudi minister discussed the situation in Ukraine with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the G20 events in New Delhi (March 1-2), and before that – on February 26 – he visited Kiev.
Explosions at Nord Streams
Lavrov called the Western media's version that a "pro-Ukrainian group" not affiliated with official Kiev and acting without its knowledge was involved in the explosions at "Nord Stream" "shameful". He stressed the need for "an unbiased, objective investigation so that the organizers of this terrorist act do not escape responsibility."
Agreements on the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant
An agreement on the security zone around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant was almost reached and Moscow "was ready to support it," Lavrov said.
According to him, the agreement "was blocked by Kiev."
He stressed that the talks did not discuss the "demilitarization" of the nuclear plant, which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke about: "No one ever talked about any demilitarization except [demilitarization] of Ukraine itself."
Lavrov said that Guterres "once again failed" to take his proper neutral stance as UN secretary-general and "in fact, signed up exactly to unilateral Ukrainian demands."
Implementation of the grain deal
The Istanbul agreements include "two inseparable constituent parts," but the part concerning the removal of obstacles to Russian food exports "is not being implemented at all," Lavrov said. He stressed that Russia and Turkey are fulfilling their obligations under the deal, which expires March 18.
Security in the Middle East
Lavrov and the Saudi foreign minister also discussed the stabilization of the situation in the Persian Gulf "through the promotion of an agenda that unites all the countries concerned." Moscow will continue to promote the "concept of collective security" in the region and will continue dialogue with all states in the region.
The ministers also discussed the situation in Syria. As Lavrov noted, Moscow and Riyadh have "common positions in favor of preserving the unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty" of the Arab republic.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Alexander Shcherbak / TASS
Based on materials from TASS