Those answers are expected this week — even though the U.S. and its allies have already made clear they will reject the top Russian demands. Earlier this month, Lavrov’s deputy pointedly refused to rule out the deployment of Russian military assets to Cuba and Venezuela — far closer to the U.S. than Ukraine — if Moscow’s security demands aren’t met. Presidential advisers from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany are set to meet in Paris to discuss ways to revive a stalled peace agreement for eastern Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of planning to retake the areas controlled by the rebels — something Kyiv denies. Britain is also promising sanctions, and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has urged European nations to do more to support Ukraine.

Source: Egypt Independent January 27, 2022 02:37 UTC