Russia’s Lavrov issues ultimatum to Ukraine

Ultimatum comes a day after president Vladimir Putin says Moscow was open to talks

Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has issued an ultimatum to Ukraine to fulfill Moscow’s proposals or have the Russian army “decide the issue.”

“Our proposals for the demilitarisation and denazification of the territories controlled by the regime, the elimination of threats to Russia’s security emanating from there, including our new lands, are well known to the enemy,” state news agency TASS quoted Mr Lavrov as saying.

“The point is simple: Fulfill them for your own good. Otherwise, the issue will be decided by the Russian army.”

It came after president Vladimir Putin claimed that Moscow was open to talks.

“We are ready to negotiate with everyone involved about acceptable solutions, but that is up to them – we are not the ones refusing to negotiate, they are,” the Russian president told Rossiya 1 state television.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is now in its eleventh month has triggered the most deadly conflict in Europe since the Second World War.

In an apparent reaction, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted that "Russia needs to face the reality".

"Neither total mobilisation, nor panicky search for ammo, nor secret contracts with Iran, nor Lavrov's threats will help," he said.

Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba says his government wants a summit to end the war but that he did not anticipate Russia taking part.

Mr Kuleba said Ukraine wanted a "peace" summit within two months with UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres acting as mediator.

But he also said that Russia must face a war crimes tribunal before before his country directly talks with Moscow.

Meanwhile, fierce fighting continued on Tuesday in the Russia-claimed Donetsk and Luhansk regions that have recently been the scene of the most intense clashes.

Ukraine's deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said that Russian forces were trying to encircle the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, but without success.

Heavy battles were also under way around the city of Kreminna in the Luhansk region, Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai said.

Meanwhile, Mr Putin signed a decree banning oil exports to countries that support a $60-per-barrel price cap set by the European Union and G7 countries. However, the price cap is higher than the figure Russian oil has sold for in recent weeks