Russian media on the 15th quoted Foreign Minister Lavrov as saying any Ukraine
settlement that does not take Russian interests into account will "absolutely
not work." Responding to von der Leyen's remark that talks must be predicated on a
ceasefire, Lavrov said Russia will not accept solutions that ignore its
interests, warned the EU appears unclear about the role it can play in
negotiations, and reiterated that Russia insists talks be predicated on achieving
the goals of its "special military operation," "this has not changed."
