Russia Remains Open to Diplomatic Settlement of Ukrainian Conflict, Lavrov Says
12:39 07.07.2025 (Updated: 13:25 07.07.2025)
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Russia doesn't need a pause that Kiev and its foreign handlers will use to regroup forces, continue mobilization, and rebuild their military capability, the top diplomat emphasized.
Russia Remains Open to Diplomatic Settlement of Ukrainian Conflict, Lavrov Says
"However, it must bring durable peace, not a mere ceasefire," Russian FM Sergey Lavrov told a Hungarian newspaper.
Key statements by Lavrov:
On the Ukrainian conflict settlement:
Sustainable resolution of the conflict is impossible without addressing its root causes, primarily by eliminating the threats to Russia's security, caused by NATO expansion;
Russia also demands "demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, lifting sanctions on Russia, rescinding all lawsuits against Russia and returning the illegally seized Western-based assets;"
Russia's new regions (Crimea, DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions) must be internationally recognized;
It is also crucial to ensure human rights protection in the territories that remain under control of Kiev, which since 2014 "has been destroying everything that is related to Russia;"
Kiev brought Russophobia to the level of state policy: people who identify as Russians "have been told in no uncertain terms that they are second-class citizens — outliers — in Ukraine;"
The peace settlement agreement should include all the mentioned provisions.
On Russia's new regions:
Kiev can't claim the principle of territorial integrity under international law, as it does not represent the people of the regions that joined Russia;
It is "unwarranted" to use the term "annexation" in relation to Crimea and four other regions that joined Russia after referendums were held there in accordance with international law.
