West using Zelensky against Russia, says Lavrov

KABUL (Pajhwok): Russia has blamed the West for prodding Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to disregard the implementation of the Minsk Agreements.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged on Tuesday: “The West did everything to strengthen Zelensky in his desire to ignore the Minsk Agreements,”

Speaking to an Indian television channel, he said if Zelensky had cooperated in implementing the Minsk Agreements, the crisis would have been resolved a long time ago.

The Minsk agreements envisage a ceasefire, withdrawal of weapons, declaration of an amnesty and other d-escalatory measures.

The accords outline constitutional reform in Ukraine through talks with Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR, LPR).

However, Kiev has rejected direct dialogue with the DPR and the LPR, resisting the consolidation of the regions’ special constitutional status.

Kiev has demanded that a section of the border with Russia in Donbass be placed under Ukrainian control until that political part of the deal is enforced.

PAN Monitor/mud