US President Donald Trump said serious progress has been achieved in resolving the Ukrainian crisis.
"We're making good progress there. I think, I really think we're making some very good progress," he told reporters during a meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah II in the White House.
This comes barely three days after Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said the United States and the West in general are being less than sincere in their approach to discussing the Ukrainian settlement, whereas Russia has been clear from the start that it intends to defend its interests.
"Naturally, we have our vital, fundamental interests, which include Russia’s unchallengeable ownership of those regions that are collectively called Novorossia. This is committed to paper in the constitution following the expression of will of people living in these regions. Obviously, Ukraine’s non-admission to NATO is one of the causes of the special military operation and there can be no doubt of that either. As for Kursk, everything has been said by the president [of Russia Vladimir Putin]. I think this is evident for all who live both in Russia and far away from it," he said.
"And I would like to note that the insincerity of our Western opponents, first of all the United States, shines through while discussing these topics," he added.
Meanwhile, according to the senior Russian diplomat, Moscow’s position has never changed.
"Our position stems from our country’s national interests. It runs deep and is fully attuned to the seriousness and tragedy of what is going on. We cannot betray our national interest and must defend them," Ryabkov emphasized.
