Russia is ready to talk with Ukraine, Putin tells Xi

Statement comes after the Russian leader held phone call with the Chinese president, says Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to send a delegation to Minsk for negotiations with representatives of Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Friday after the Russian leader held a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Putin told Xi that Russia's military operation in Ukraine was necessary to protect people against "genocide", the Kremlin said, an accusation that the West calls baseless propaganda.

The Kremlin said Xi respected Russia's actions and was ready for close coordination and mutual support at the United Nations, where both are veto-holding permanent members of the Security Council.

Also read: Biden has no intention to send US troops to fight in Ukraine: White House

Earlier, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that Russia will return to negotiations with Ukraine as soon as the Ukrainian armed forces surrender and lay down their weapons, day two of Russia's military intervention in its smaller western neighbour.

Russia's goal is to free Ukraine of "external management" carried out by the US and "Nazis," Lavrov told a news conference in Moscow, echoing President Vladimir Putin’s earlier statement saying the attack aimed at the “denazification” of Ukraine.

"We’re ready for negotiations at any moment as soon as the armed forces of Ukraine respond to our proposal, stop resisting, lay down their weapons, — nobody is going to abuse them, nobody is going to oppress them – let's return to our families and allow the Ukrainian people to decide their fate themselves," he said.

(With input from Anadolu Agency)