Russia is ready for peace but other side...: Envoy Denis Alipov

NEW DELHI: Russia looks towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict with Ukraine but Kyiv has re-peatedly said that it is not interested in negotiations with Moscow, according to Ambassador Denis Alipov.

The Russian envoy to India said despite the tense situation prevailing between Russia and Ukraine, Western backers of Ukraine continue to supply it with weapons and military equipment.

“It doesn't leave space towards the resolution and the peace on the ground, the secession of hostilities on the ground,” Alipov said. “The situation is obviously tense. The fighting continues. We have been very straightforward from the very start that we are open and are looking towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. However, the Ukrainian side has repeatedly said that it is not interested in negotiations with Russia. The western backers of Ukraine continue to supply Ukraine with weapons and military equipment,” he said.

Alipov further stated that Russia has made it clear that the expansion of NATO eastwards is dangerous and if countries don’'t come to a mutual understanding then it will give rise to a military conflict.

“Nobody listened to us. Russia's viewpoint has been dismissed as relevant and now we have the consequence of that adamant position that the West has taken. So it's not that at the moment. It's not that Russia has taken an aggressive position,” the envoy said.

“It is specifically the defensive line that we have been executing. And it is up to the West, it is up to Ukraine to start listening to us and start seriously contemplating the peaceful resolution of the current conflict. We are ready for that. But the other side doesn't seem so,” he added.

He also called out sanctions against Russia as an “economic war” against Russia. Alipov said, “Despite that (sanctions), the economy is on the rise. The gross domestic product is increasing, the domestic production is on the rise, and the financial situation is stable. Obviously, we've done a great job in securing the stability of the Russian economy, despite the intentions of our adversaries to disrupt it.” “They do not hide that the purpose is to destroy the economy of the Russian Federation. And in these efforts, they have been very obviously unsuccessful," he said.

Meanwhile, asked about Russia’s absence at the recent Jeddah conference, which saw participation by over 40 countries, Alipov said, “The discussions in Jeddah and previously in Copenhagen focused solely on promoting the so-called ten-point formula of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented by them as a solution to the conflict.”

Senior political officials and National Security Advisors from over 40 countries, including India China, the UK and the US, participated in the two-day conference hosted by Saudi Arabia on August 5-6 to deliberate on a resolu-tion to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. ANI

Also Read: Centre refutes China’s claim of Modi-Xi meeting taking place at India’s initiative

ALso Watch: