The West probably will not accept the African peace initiative on Ukraine, because the US and the UK are sticking to the so-called Zelensky peace formula, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov said answering Sputnik's question at a press conference in Nairobi.
"Regarding the African initiative, Washington and London probably cannot accept, as they have publicly stated more than once, anything other than the so-called Zelensky peace formula, which they are implementing in every possible way in all documents of the G7, NATO, and the European Union and demand that everyone stick to it," he noted.
Lavrov underlined that the formula involves the pullout of Russian troops and the withdrawal of Russia from all territories - Crimea and Donbass and the other new territories – the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions; in addition to holding a tribunal against Russia, and against the Russian leadership as well as reparations.
He recalled that two or three years ago, Zelensky said that if a Ukrainian citizen feels Russian, then for the sake of their children and grandchildren, they should leave and "go back to Russia." Lavrov stressed that two top Ukrainian officials, Danilov and Podolyak, said that after the return of Crimea and the eastern territories of Ukraine, they would wipe out everything Russian there, even going as far as physical destroying Russian citizens.
"This position by the West and its commitment exclusively to this barbaric, bestial formula of Zelensky means that they are ready to support genocide. There is nothing more for me to add here," Lavrov said.
Earlier in May, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that Moscow and Kiev had agreed to receive a mission of African leaders with their peace initiative on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Lavrov later confirmed that the African mission was planning to visit Russia in mid-June or early July.
Replying to another Sputnik question, the top diplomat noted that the Russian armed forces have the ability to respond to the US-led West's intentions of training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets.
"As for Denmark and the Netherlands and their intention to be at the forefront of those who train Ukrainian pilots on Western aircraft, well, there is, first of all, a desire to please the hegemon. These countries are actively pursuing Washington’s line in European affairs. As for our reaction, I have no doubt that our armed forces have the ability to respond to this," Lavrov told reporters during his visit to Kenya.
He also touched upon the Black Sea grain deal, stressing that if everything under the agreement stays the same – and it appears to be so – it will be meaningless to extend it.