Russia gives Ukraine ultimatum: comply with demands or our army will decide

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has claimed that his country is ready for talks to end the war in Ukraine

Despite Putin’s comments, Russian and Ukrainian forces keep fighting – a sign that peace is not imminent

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The war in Ukraine is in its 11th month, marked by many embarrassing Russian battlefield setbacks. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:06pm, 27 Dec 2022Updated: 9:05pm, 27 Dec 2022

A day after President Vladimir Putin said he was open to negotiations over Ukraine, Russia’s foreign minister lashed out saying Kyiv and the West sought to destroy his country and Ukraine must meet Moscow’s demands or its army will.

Kyiv and its Western allies have dismissed Putin’s offer to talk, with his forces battering Ukrainian towns with missiles and rockets and Moscow continuing to demand that Kyiv recognise its conquest of a fifth of the country.

Kyiv says it will fight until Russia withdraws.

“Our proposals for the demilitarisation and denazification of the territories controlled by the regime, the elimination of threats to Russia’s security emanating from there, including our new lands, are well known to the enemy,” state news agency Tass quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as saying late on Monday.

“The point is simple: fulfil them for your own good. Otherwise, the issue will be decided by the Russian army.”

Lavrov also accused the West of fuelling the war in Ukraine to weaken Russia, and said that it depends on Kyiv and Washington how long the conflict will last.

“The ball is on the side of the (Kyiv) regime and Washington that stands behind its back,” Lavrov told the state Tass news agency. “They may stop senseless resistance at any moment.”