29-03-2024 09:42 AM Jerusalem Timing

Lavrov Says No Progress on Ukraine Truce at Talks

Lavrov Says No Progress on Ukraine Truce at Talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that no progress had been made to agree on a ceasefire in Ukraine during crisis talks over the weekend in Berlin.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that no progress had been made to agree on a ceasefire in Ukraine during crisis talks over the weekend in Berlin.

Following the talks between the foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France on Sunday, Lavrov told a Berlin news conference that the talks had failed to produce "positive results in [...] establishing a ceasefire and (starting) a political process."Lavrov

Lavrov accused Kiev's new leaders of changing their demands over what it would take to establish a truce between government troops and pro-federalization, who have been fighting for more than four months in eastern Ukraine.

"Our Ukrainian counterparts, unfortunately, continue setting conditions - and rather vague ones at that - including, as they say, the establishment of an impenetrable border," Lavrov said, adding that Russia wanted an "unconditional" ceasefire.

However, Lavrov said that "all questions" regarding a Russian humanitarian convoy to Ukraine had been resolved with Kiev and the Red Cross.
The convoy has been parked at the border between Russia and Ukraine for days amid objections from Kiev.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Sunday that the Berlin talks had seen "frank words" being exchanged "on some issues," but admitted the talks had been "difficult."

Steinmeier said the four foreign ministers would consult with their leaders before possibly agreeing on how to proceed on Tuesday.