Russian Diplomat Calls On West To Stop Arms Supply To Ukraine If Wants To Negotiate

Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova. (Source: Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service)

JAKARTA - A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said Western countries should stop supplying weapons to Kyiv if they want negotiations on war in Ukraine, commenting on a statement by members of the Federal Council for Swiss Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis, who stated Russia should be included in peace discussions.

Cassis said efforts to bring Russia into negotiations on Ukraine's war peace mediated by other countries were underway, stressing it could not be held without Moscow's participation.

"If it's about the desire of some countries to find a way out of Washington's deadlock, then this is one thing. In this case, they must stop supplying weapons to Ukraine, stop applying anti-Russian sanctions, stop applying anti-Russian sanctions and stop making Russophobic statements," he told the Izvestia newspaper., reported from TASS January 15.

"If this rhetoric is directed at drawing Russia into a kind of psychedelic process based on Western terms to influence Russia's principle approach, we will not be trapped in this trap," he stressed.

Earlier, Cassis said at a press conference: "We have to do everything we can to end this war."

"China plays an important role. We have to find a way to work with China on this," Cassis said, adding neither Russia nor Ukraine were willing to give concessions.

Cassis said countries that had dialogue with Russia, such as Brazil, India, and South Africa, were involved in the Davos discussions and could play an important role.

Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang will lead the country's delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also scheduled to attend the meeting.