"Western countries must choose whether to continue to destroy or negotiate with Ukra."

Russia has insisted that the West choose whether to continue to destroy Ukraine or start dialogue with Russia, AFP and others reported.

"The situation is not in Ukraine's favor and the West has faced a choice," Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia's National Security Council, said at a security meeting of the Independent Union in Moscow, Russia, on the 7th local time.

"We must continue to support Ukraine and destroy the Ukrainian population, or realize the current reality and start negotiations," he said.

The remarks are noteworthy as a high-ranking Russian official has publicly discussed negotiations since Trump, who has vowed to end the situation in Ukraine, was elected president of the United States.

Shoigu served as Russia's defense minister from 2012 to May.

Shoigu also said Ukraine tried to carry out nuclear terrorism targeting the Kursk and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants, and that Russia regards the Ukrainian regime as a terrorist.

Recently, Russian forces focusing on advancing in eastern Ukraine have said they have captured Kreminna Balka, a small town in Donetsk.