(Photo : EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The warning comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his willingness to enter negotiations to resolve the war in Ukraine.
The Russian foreign minister responded harshly, claiming that Kyiv and the West wanted to destroy his nation and that Kyiv must comply with Moscow's demands or face the wrath of its troops.
This development came after President Vladimir Putin declared he was ready to engage in peace talks over the Russia Ukraine war.
Vladimir Putin's soldiers have been shelling Ukrainian cities with missiles and rockets, and Moscow is still demanding that Kyiv recognize its control of a fifth of the nation, but Kyiv and its Western allies have rejected Putin's invitation to dialogue. Until Russia leaves, Kyiv vows to continue fighting.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was cited as stating late on Monday by the Russian news agency TASS that Ukraine is fully aware of Russia's "proposals for the demilitarization and denazification" of the regions held by the Putin's regime, the removal of dangers to Russia's security originating from there, including Moscow's "new lands."
"The point is simple: Fulfil them for your own good. Otherwise, the issue will be decided by the Russian army," according to Lavrov's Russia warning per CNBC.
Lavrov Blasts Biden, NATO
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Washington last week, and the United States pledged $1.85 billion in new military aid, including the delivery of the Patriot Air Defense System, much to Moscow's displeasure.
Lavrov told TASS that the US and NATO's geopolitical objective is to beat Russia on the battlefield to weaken or destroy Russia and "it is no secret to anyone."
He blamed the administration of American President Joe Biden's for the difficulty of the US and Russia in maintaining normal relations.
The Russia Ukraine war which Moscow had intended to end quickly, is now 11 months and has been characterized by several humiliating Russian defeats on the battlefield.
The British Ministry of Defense reports that the combat in the Bakhmut area of Ukraine has been constant for the previous 48 hours.
The intelligence assessment said that "little territory" has switched possession but Russia continues to conduct regular small-scale attacks in the region, according to an Al Jazeera report.
Russian soldiers have recently moved to Belarus, and some of them likely came from Russia's 1st Guards Tank Army, which is based in the country's northern regions. Rather than being fully combat-ready upon deployment, this formation was probably engaged in training before its departure.
Expert Says Russia-Ukraine War Would Likely To Continue Until the End of 2023
Meanwhile, one expert believes there is no solution to the Russia-Ukraine war in sight and that it is more likely to persist next year.
According to Barbara Zanchetta, senior lecturer in diplomacy and foreign policy at the Department of War Studies at King's College London, Vladimir Putin had counted on Ukraine to acquiesce to the activities of its more powerful neighbor, with little to no intervention from other nations. This catastrophic underestimate has resulted in an ongoing war that shows no signs of abating anytime soon.
Russia's assault on Ukrainian infrastructure this winter will test the mettle of a nation already reeling from years of war and economic hardship, she noted. The perseverance of the Ukrainian people, however, has been inspiring. In the end, they will hold fast.
Zanchetta sees little hope for a successful negotiation in the Russia Ukraine war. One party must modify its underlying demands for peace.
The expert underscored that the end of the Russia Ukraine war lies inside Moscow, as the monetary and human costs of the conflict threaten to sap the resolve of Russia's ruling class.
She noted that this happened to the United States in Vietnam and the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, which compelled them to end their respective conflicts. Zanchetta said that after a change in domestic political circumstances, the miscalculating nation had no choice but to consider leaving the war, whether "honorable" or not.
"This may only happen, however, if the West stands firm in its support for Ukraine, in the face of increased domestic pressures linked to the costs of the war," Zanchetta told the BBC.
She added that the Russia-Ukraine war would remain a lengthy political, economic, and military struggle, which is likely to persist into the latter part of 2023.
Related Article: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping To Talk Before the Year Ends After China Signals 'Rock-Solid' Ties with Russia
