Lavrov rejects European calls for Ukraine ceasefire: 'We won't accept it'

Rastinews — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended a joint meeting in Moscow of the Collective Security Treaty Organization's (CSTO) Council of Foreign Ministers, Council of Defense Ministers and Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils. Afterward, he held a press conference alongside CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov.

Lavrov addressed the trilateral talks underway in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), between delegations from Russia, the United States and Ukraine. He said the talks, proposed by Washington, covered Ukraine, Russia and the future security architecture of the region.

"The idea of first defining clear parameters for a future security system and only then moving to resolve the issue between Russia and Ukraine is entirely reasonable," he said.

"We won't accept it"

He pushed back sharply against European calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine. "This is old logic. It's being done to buy Ukraine time and let it make up its losses. We won't accept it," he said.

The Russian minister noted that European representatives had also traveled to Abu Dhabi. "They've gone all the way to Abu Dhabi, so let them sit in their hotel," he said.

He added that the U.S. delegation planned to meet with Ukrainian and European officials before sitting down with the Russian side. He said he did not consider this an effective approach, but added that Moscow would not interfere with who Washington chooses to meet.

Exercises in Poland

According to Lavrov, Europe is planning to deploy troops to Ukraine as soon as a ceasefire takes hold. He said exercises launched by some European Union (EU) countries in Poland were preparation for that scenario.

Iran and Lebanon

Lavrov said he hoped the United States would not strike Iran again. He said Russia supported mediation efforts by Qatar, Pakistan and Egypt.

He also referred to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed between Iran and the U.S. in June. Its first article calls for a halt to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. Lavrov said Israel refuses to implement this article. He noted that the Israeli government has also said it will not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Armenia's voting rights go before heads of state

The most notable decision at the CSTO meeting concerned Armenia. According to Lavrov, Yerevan has not paid its annual dues to the organization. As a result, a draft decision to suspend Armenia's voting rights under Article 25 of the CSTO Charter will be submitted for approval by the heads of state.

Lavrov said Armenia has not filed a formal request to withdraw from either the CSTO or the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

"Yerevan says the CSTO does not meet Armenia's security needs or serve its interests. If that's the case, Armenia should leave the organization. But we will not expel Armenia from the organization," he said.

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Lavrov said Armenia's right to collective security within the organization would continue even if its voting rights are suspended.