US restraining Kyiv in peace talks

More now from Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, this time on the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

He said the US is ‘restraining Kyiv from agreeing to Russia’s demands.’

“It is constantly felt that the Ukrainian delegation is being held by the hand, most likely by the Americans, not allowing them to agree to the demands that I think are absolutely minimal,” he said, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.

Mr. Lavrov did not appear to provide any evidence for the idea that the US is influencing Kyiv’s position, and neither the US nor Ukraine have suggested this could be the case.

In his most recent video address, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky called for meaningful negotiations on peace.

“It’s time to meet. Time to talk,” he said, apparently calling for direct talks with Vladimir Putin.

BBC /Shakirat Sadiq