'Russia won't stop war in Ukraine amid negotiations,' warns Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

Russia won't stop war in Ukraine amid negotiations, said Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday. Speaking to local media outlets, Lavrov underlined that while negotiations were ongoing, Russia won’t stop its attacks. He also denied that Russia was committing war crimes in Ukraine, calling visuals of mass graves “std” and “provocations", Kyiv Independent reported.

Speaking in an interview with Russian state television, Foreign Minister furr revealed that talks with Kyiv were t progressing as rapidly as Moscow h desired. He accused West of derailing negotiations between two nations by alleging that his country was committing 'war crimes', as was seen through horrific visuals in Bucha.

leer asserted, that while Russian President Vlimir Putin h ordered suspension of 'military operations' in Ukraine during first round of talks held in Belarus,  stand h since n changed.  A decision was me that “during next round of talks, re would be pause (in military action) so long as a final agreement is t reached," he said, ding that Moscow took decision after it was convinced that Ukrainian side was t planning to reciprocate. 

Russia-Ukraine talks 

Delegations of Russia and Ukraine previously held meeting on March 29 in Istanbul,  first face-to-face talks between two nations in over three weeks. Talks h shifted to virtual mode in between, and last time y were held in person was during first round in Belarus.

During Istanbul negotiations, Ukrainian delegation outlined a framework under which Kyiv would declare itself neutral, reported AP. In turn, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin anunced that armed forces of Moscow would reduce its military action in Kyiv and Chernihiv in a bid to "increase mutual trust" and develop conditions for "furr negotiations." talks between delegations of Ukraine and Russia came at a time when Moscow's military offensive at behest of Russian President Vlimir Putin has transcended first month.

Meanwhile, United Nations Refugee ncy (UNHCR) recently stated that over 4.5 million people have fled war-struck country ever since onset of invasion on February 24. A breakthrough is still awaited. 

(With ncy inputs; Im: AP)