Moscow has released a statement on Tuesday that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was still ready to attend talks with US Secretary Antony Blinken after President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine’s two separatist regions.
While addressing media, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, “Even during the most difficult moments, we say we are ready for negotiations.”
She added that, “We are always in favour of diplomacy.”
She spoke following the Putin recognised the independence of the former Soviet state’s separatists-held Donetsk and Lugansk regions, providing the way for the deployment of a potential invasion force.
Lavrov had said on Monday that he was set to meet the Blinken on Thursday in Geneva to address the increasing tensions over Ukraine.
Moscow’s move targeted international condemnation and a promise of targeted sanctions from the United States and the European Union.
