Russia meets French, British, German ambassadors after Ukraine summit

Russia's Foreign Ministry announced it had received the ambassadors of France, Britain, and Germany for discussions, days after a summit in London attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The meeting occurred against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to find a resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

During the London summit, the leaders of France, Germany, and Britain expressed support for Zelenskyy's proposal advocating for a "direct dialogue" between Ukraine and Russia. This initiative aims to de-escalate tensions and move towards ending the conflict that has persisted for over four years.

However, Russian diplomatic sources stated that the ambassadors were briefed on what they described as the "destructive policy" of their respective countries concerning Ukraine. Moscow accused France, Britain, and Germany of actively seeking to "continue the war against Russia." This framing suggests a significant divergence in perspectives between Russia and the three European powers regarding the conflict's origins and potential solutions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously commented on the prospects for a meeting with Zelenskyy, stating he saw "no sense" in such a summit unless a preliminary agreement to end the war was achieved. This stance indicates Russia's conditions for direct engagement and highlights the complex diplomatic landscape surrounding the conflict.