Lavrov claimed Russia willing to negotiate peace with Kyiv but West intervened

Lavrov blasted West for sending the weapons to Ukraine as fighting continues

President Zelensky has pleaded for more tanks to stop the 'evil' invasion

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov today claimed the West stopped peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in the early months of the war.

Lavrov claimed Russia did not 'refuse negotiations' with Ukraine and was willing to negotiate but the US and other Western nations advised Kyiv against it.

His remarks on a visit to South Africa were similar to those made last year by Russian President Vladimir Putin that his country was ready for talks but Ukraine's Western allies prevented that from happening.