Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that some in the West were suggesting that Moscow should discuss peace in Ukraine because the United States and its allies had failed to defeat Russian forces in Ukraine.
Nearly two years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow controls about 17.5% of Ukrainian territory and a Ukrainian counter-offensive this year has failed to win any major territorial gains against Russian forces who have defended the front with extensive mine fields and swarms of drones.
Mr Lavrov, in an interview with RIA state news agency and the Rossiya 24 TV channel, said there were signs that the West was changing its tactics and strategy on Ukraine.
"The West is really changing its tactics - maybe even thinking about clarifying the strategy. Because if the 'strategic defeat of Russia' is a strategy, forgive the tautology, then this strategy failed miserably," Mr Lavrov said.
"There are some approaches, some whispers: why don't you (Russia) meet with someone in Europe who would be ready to talk, talk about Ukraine without Ukraine itself," said Mr Lavrov, who also reiterated that Moscow would achieve all its goals in Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said he is ready to talk about peace in Ukraine but on Russia's terms. US officials have said they think he is waiting for the 2024 US presidential election before making any serious move towards peace.
Ukraine says it will not rest until every last Russian soldier is ejected from its territory as defined in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. The West says it will not push Ukraine towards peace.
Mr Putin casts the Ukraine war as a battle for Russian survival against an arrogant West, which he says is plotting to cleave Russia apart and to steal its vast natural resources.
US President Joe Biden has said the West does not seek to destroy Russia but wants Kyiv to defeat Moscow's forces on Ukrainian territory. Mr Biden also said in 2022 that Russia had suffered a "strategic failure" in Ukraine.
Mr Lavrov, who has been in post since 2004, also said today that major Western powers had met in "secret" about 10 days ago as part of a G7 plus developing nations meeting to discuss a "peace formula" proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Mr Lavrov said they had agreed on a further meeting in January and a "peace summit" in February based on the Zelensky peace formula. Reuters could not independently verify his assertions.
Mr Zelensky's 10-point peace plan calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities and the restoration of Ukraine's state borders with Russia.
Moscow says the Zelensky idea is absurd as it does not include Russia in talks.
Bulk carrier hits mine in Black Sea, two injured
Meanwhile, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier that was headed to a River Danube port to load grain has hit a mine in the Black Sea, the Ukrainian military said today.
It was the latest incident of a civilian vessel hitting an explosive in the Black Sea in what Kyiv says is stepped-up Russian attacks on shipping and port infrastructure.
"A Panama-flagged civilian vessel was blown up on an enemy sea mine in the Black Sea...The vessel lost its course andcontrol, and a fire broke out on the upper deck," Ukraine's southern military command said on Telegram.
One person was hospitalised, and another received medical help on board. Tugs were sent to the site, the military added.
It did not say on what day the incident happened.
Moscow has increased attacks on Ukraine's portinfrastructure since mid-July, when it quit a UN-brokered dealthat allowed safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments via the Black Sea.
Kyiv since has established an alternative route, which hugs the western shores of the Black Sea. It said Russian forces have been repeatedly dropping explosive devices in its vicinity.
US proposes G7 explore ways to confiscate $300bn in Russian assets
The United States has proposed that working groups from G7 countries explore ways to seize $300bn in frozen Russian assets, the Financial Times reported today.
The United States, backed by the UK, Japan and Canada, has proposed moving forward with preparatory work so that options would be ready for G7 leaders to consider at a potential meetingaround 24 February, according to the report.
