Russia: Our talk about preparing for negotiations regarding Ukraine does not mean making concessions

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov confirmed on Thursday that Russian diplomacy's talk about readiness for negotiations regarding Ukraine does not mean openness to making concessions.

The Russian Sputnik news agency quoted Alimov as saying during a press conference today: “When we talk about our readiness for negotiations, this does not mean, so to speak, that our diplomacy tends to abandon positions or rush to make concessions.” In the same context, he said that Russia is not closing the door to dialogue with Western countries, pointing out the failure of all attempts to impose international isolation on it.

He added: "Isolation does not exist, and there will never be isolation. We have many friends and people with similar orientations who communicate with us with joy, interest and desire, and they will continue to do so. We are not closing ourselves off to dialogue with Western countries."

He explained: "Even the countries that are leading campaigns to isolate Russia, and accusing us of various evils, have striven behind the scenes to request a meeting and participation."

He pointed out that the talks took place even with representatives of countries adopting a difficult position, explaining that the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, held more than 40 bilateral calls during the week of high-level General Assembly meetings.