European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held the West responsible for any escalation in the conflict with Ukraine.
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held the West responsible for any escalation in the conflict with Ukraine.
In a television interview with Russia 24, he said that the West is "openly working" to escalate the conflict in Ukraine.
He added that the West is only trying to "defeat Prussia, and make it unable to regain its strength for decades."
He continued, "We see how the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is fighting a war against Russia," referring to Russia's reluctance to "ask its partners in the Collective Security Treaty Organization" for help with regard to military operations in Ukraine.
In the context, Lavrov accused German Chancellor Olaf Schultz of changing his positions "rapidly" after he agreed to send "Leopard 2" combat tanks to Ukraine.
And Lavrov added: "Shultz, who promised not to send planes to Ukraine, is known for his ability to change his positions."
"It all started with some helmets for Ukrainian soldiers, then small arms appeared, and now they are talking about planes," he added.
"The more long-range weapons that are being provided to Ukraine, the more Russia will have to neutralize those weapons away from its territory," Lavrov said.
He also stressed that any talk of Moscow's refusal to negotiate is tantamount to "a lie".
Euro-Ukraine summit
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived Thursday in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Von der Leyen, in statements on Twitter, upon her arrival in Kyiv, reiterated the EU's firm support for Ukraine.
She said, "I am happy to return to Kyiv, which is my fourth visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian war, but this time accompanied by my team of commissioners."
"We are here together to show that the European Union stands firmly by Ukraine's side, as it has always been," she added.
Tomorrow, Friday, representatives of the European Union and Kiev will hold a meeting, the first of its kind since the beginning of the Russian war against Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Charles Michel participate in the summit.