Lavrov: Zelensky's statements do not add optimism to prospects of Russia-Ukraine consultations

MOSCOW. March 5 (Interfax) - The embittered statements of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky do no add optimism to the prospects of consultations between Russia and Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"The continuous embittered statements of Mr. Zelensky do not add optimism here. Just recently, he lashed out at a NATO meeting, said a few rude things to his sponsors and accused them of inaction. And I have a question here: if he got so upset that NATO did not stand up for him as he had hoped, does it mean that he still expects the conflict to be resolved through NATO's involvement in this entire story rather than through talks? It means that he does not hear the constant statements coming from Washington, Paris, Berlin, and other capitals that NATO is not going to get involved in this conflict," Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow on Saturday.

"And it appears that he still seeks to provoke a conflict with NATO's participation, between NATO and Russia. If he was in that mood when he woke up yesterday, maybe it has changed today. I don't know. But this militaristic frenzy of his definitely indicates that he does not need talks," Lavrov said.

"Let's hope that his mood may change today, he is a man of many moods. Let's hope so," he said.