Russia’s Lavrov issues ultimatum to Ukraine: ‘For your own good’ - Al Jazeera English

Fulfil Moscow’s demands, ‘otherwise, the contented volition beryllium decided by the Russian army’, Russia’s overseas curate said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has fixed Ukraine an ultimatum: Fulfil Moscow’s demands — including surrendering Ukrainian territory that Russia present controls — oregon the Russian service volition determine the destiny of Ukraine.

Speaking a time aft Russian President Vladimir Putin erstwhile again said helium was unfastened to bid talks — and which the United States has described arsenic disingenuous — Lavrov told Kyiv that it should, for its “own good”, comply with Moscow’s wishes.

“Our proposals for the demilitarisation and denazification of the territories controlled by the regime, the elimination of threats to Russia’s information emanating from there, including our caller lands, are good known to the enemy,” authorities quality bureau TASS quoted Lavrov arsenic saying precocious connected Monday.

“The constituent is simple: Fulfil them for your ain good. Otherwise, the contented volition beryllium decided by the Russian army,” Lavrov said.

Asked by TASS however agelong the struggle volition last, Lavrov said: “The shot is successful the regime’s tribunal and Washington down it.”

On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin again said Moscow was unfastened to negotiations and blamed Kyiv and its Western backers for a deficiency of talks, comments which the US has dismissed arsenic insincere.

As the warfare enters its 11th period and despite myriad battlefield setbacks for Moscow, Russian forces are engaged successful fierce warring successful the eastbound and southbound of Ukraine portion Russia’s rocket and drone attacks person devastated Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, leaving millions without power, heating and water.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said successful his nightly video code connected Monday that the concern astatine the beforehand successful the Donbas portion was “difficult and painful” and required each of the country’s “strength and concentration”. He said that arsenic a effect of Russia’s targeting of Ukraine’s vigor infrastructure, astir 9 cardinal radical were present without electricity. That fig amounts to astir a 4th of Ukraine’s population.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians person besides been killed successful cities Russia razed to the ground, and thousands of troops connected some sides person died.

Hosting leaders of erstwhile Soviet states successful St Petersburg connected Monday for a acme of the Commonwealth of Independent States group, Putin made nary nonstop notation to the warfare successful Ukraine portion saying threats to the information and stableness of the Eurasian portion were increasing.

“Unfortunately challenges and threats successful this area, particularly from the outside, are lone increasing each year,” helium said.

Since the penetration successful February, Ukraine has driven Russian forces from the north, defeated them connected the outskirts of the superior Kyiv and forced Russian retreats successful the eastbound and south. But Moscow inactive controls swathes of eastbound and confederate onshore Putin claims to person annexed.