Russia’s Lavrov ‘Disappointed’ at Lack of Progress in Talks With British FM

Lavrov said the talks with Liz Truss was like the 'deaf talking to the blind'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday said he was “disappointed” in the lack of progress made during talks in Moscow with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

Lavrov said speaking with Truss was like “the deaf talking to the blind” and said the British weren’t taking Moscow’s security concerns seriously. “I’m rather disappointed that it was a bit like talking to a deaf person,” he said. “It’s like they’re listening to us but not hearing.”

Truss repeated the accusation that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine, which Lavrov denied. At a press conference with Truss, Lavrov pointed out that Ukrainian officials have also denied the invasion claims, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Apparently, our Western colleagues need President Zelensky only as a mean to bring Russia out of balance. No one cares what he thinks, what negative consequences the Ukrainian economy can face,” Lavrov said.

Despite the lack of progress, Truss invited Lavrov to visit the UK in the coming months. Russia has been engaged in a flurry of diplomatic talks with the US and its NATO allies since Washington started accusing Moscow of plotting an invasion in November.

Meanwhile, the UK announced it was putting 1,000 troops on stand-by for potential deployments to support NATO allies. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with NATO officials in Brussels and said the current situation around Ukraine was at its most “dangerous moment.”

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.