Negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations are difficult, Kiev is constantly changing its position. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Wednesday in a speech at MGIMO TASS News Agency reports.

“Negotiations have begun, they are going hard, because the Ukrainian side, although it seems to have expressed understanding of the things that should be agreed upon during the negotiations, is constantly changing its position, refusing its own proposals,” he said.

“It’s difficult to get rid of the impression that Ukraine is being held by their American colleagues, who, if you read our and Western political scientists, simply don’t want this [negotiation] process to be completed quickly. They expect to continue pumping weapons into Ukraine,” Lavrov said. “Apparently, they want to keep us in a state of hostilities as long as possible.”

According to him, Russia is not against the mediation of Western countries in the negotiation process with Ukraine, but Moscow has clear red lines.

It should be noted that the Russian-Ukrainian talks started on 28 February. Russian and Ukrainian Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Dmitry Kuleba met on 10 March within the framework of a diplomatic forum in Antalya, Turkey. At the moment, the negotiators continue to communicate via video conference. The Russian delegation, as in face-to-face meetings, is headed aide to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky.

It should be reminded that early in the morning of 24 February; Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a special military operation in Ukraine, aimed at ensuring the security of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics, as well as removing the “Nazi regime” in Ukraine.

The United States and the European Union have described Russia’s move as a direct aggression by Russia against Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The Verkhovna Rada has declared martial law in Ukraine.