The second round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine held in Belarus, with objectives of immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, did not end as expected. Ukrainian Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, regretted the results but was hopeful as the two sides agreed to more talks in the future.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on Wednesday, made it clear that Russia is demanding Ukraine to demilitarize, and will write a specific list of what weapons the nation cannot possess. According to Lavrov, Russia plans to fight Nazism in Ukraine, as there are many facts that prove that Ukraine is a part of the West’s plan to create a “hostile belt” around Russia. For two years, Ukraine has been “pumped” with weapons and the shipments significantly increased in recent months, he noted.
Simultaneously, Lavrov added that the US and UK were constructing military bases in the country, including on the Sea of Azov. The Pentagon also sponsored the construction of military biological laboratories in Ukraine. Lavrov said Russia took serious note of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement, about making Ukraine a nuclear power, stressing that the former Soviet country has the potential to have nuclear weapons.
Russia’s presence in Ukraine has had impulsive negative effects. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), was left with no choice but to strip Russia the honor of hosting the men’s Champions League final, which has now been moved to France.
Through its Twitter page, World Taekwondo strongly condemned the brutal attacks on innocent lives in Ukraine. It is with this light that the international governing body of the sport, withdrew the honorary, 9th Dan Black Belt, conferred to President Vladimir Putin, in November 2013.