Russia to Review E3 Countries' Request for Another Meeting, If Any: Senior Diplomat

Mikhail Galuzin Says It Is Important to Understand What E3 Ambassadors Intend to Bring to the Negotiating Table

Moscow, October 15. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikhail Galozin said: Russia is not seeking to escape from dialogue with the E3 countries (Britain, Germany and France) and if their ambassadors request another meeting, this request will be considered.

In an interview with Izvestia newspaper, he said: "If their ambassadors ask for another meeting, the issue will be considered in light of the situation around Ukraine. We do not avoid dialogue in principle. But it is important to understand what exactly the ambassadors bring to the table."

On June 11, the ambassadors—Nicolas de Riviere of France, Nigel Casey of Great Britain, and Alexander Lambsdorff of Germany—were received by Galozin. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Galozin used the occasion to highlight the destructive policies of his respective countries aimed at encouraging Kiev to prolong the conflict. He also explained Russia's main approaches to achieving a political and diplomatic solution in Ukraine.

Later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that the sole purpose of the ambassadors' trip was to reaffirm the ultimatum issued to Russia. He noted that the West has already had numerous opportunities to influence the resolution of the conflict, but has instead chosen to behave negatively. Lavrov criticized the West for playing the role of "anti-heroes" for refusing to allow Volodymyr Zelensky to sign an already agreed-upon and initialed document in Istanbul in April 2022 that outlined the principles of a settlement and ceasefire.