Nebenzia says chances for a speedy end to the hot phase of the conflict in Ukraine

With representatives of the Republican Party coming to power in the USA, there are chances that the hot phase of the conflict in Ukraine may soon come to an end. This was stated by Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, at a meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on February 17.

"We all see what processes are taking place in the world today after the Republican administration came to power in the United States. <...> There are chances that the hot phase of the Ukrainian crisis may soon end," Nebenzya said, his speech was broadcast on the website of the UN media service.

He added that what Moscow has been calling for in recent months is being fulfilled: diplomacy has come into play. At the same time, a ceasefire and freezing the conflict along the line of contact is not a guarantee of a lasting settlement. Ukraine in the future must become a demilitarized neutral state that will not be part of any blocs or alliances.

Nebenzya pointed out that the UK and the European Union (EU) countries are completely uncompromising, they cannot be parties to any agreements on Ukraine that will emerge in the future. These states are blinded by "caveman" Russophobia. The Permanent Representative pointed out that the Russian Federation is waiting for European politicians to return to reality and stop provoking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose powers expired on May 20, 2024, into futile resistance.

The Russian permanent representative noted that the head of the Kiev regime is ready for any provocation leading to the continuation of hostilities in order to save himself at any cost. If Europe does not put Zelensky in his place, the parameters of settlement in Ukraine, which are being discussed now, may turn into a pipe dream for Kiev.

Nebenzya added that Crimea, the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DNR and LNR), Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions are irrevocably lost to Ukraine.

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Earlier in the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that on instructions from Russian President Vladimir Putin, his aide Yury Ushakov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were flying to the Saudi capital Riyadh for talks with an American delegation. The meeting is scheduled for February 18 and will discuss the restoration of bilateral relations between Moscow and Washington and the preparation of a possible dialog on resolving the crisis in Ukraine.

The same day, Ushakov said that the talks on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict in Riyadh would be bilateral, with only representatives of the Russian Federation and the United States taking part in them. This meeting was agreed upon by phone.

Lavrov said at the same time that the presence of EU representatives at the talks on Ukraine was pointless because they demonstrated their unwillingness to change their position on the crisis. They may start putting forward ideas of freezing the conflict, meaning its continuation in the future.