Russia demands recognition of occupied Ukrainian territories
Russia's stance on the "settlement" of the conflict in Ukraine remains unchanged, stated Sergey Lavrov in a press interview. According to the Russian Foreign Minister, it is "imperative" that the international community acknowledges Crimea and other territories in Ukraine controlled by Russia as part of Russia.
Many of the reports provided by Russian media are likely untrue. Such reports could be part of an information war by the Russian Federation.
What do you need to know?
- Russia demands recognition of Crimea and the occupied regions as its territory.
- Russia seeks to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Lavrov reiterated the demand that Ukraine must not join NATO, describing the government in Kyiv as a "neo-Nazi regime."
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia is open to talks with Ukraine, on the condition that the annexed regions of Ukraine are recognised.
"International recognition of Russia's ownership of Crimea, Sevastopol, the Donetsk People's Republic, the Lugansk People's Republic, the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions is imperative," Lavrov stated in an interview with the Brazilian newspaper "O Globo." A translation of the interview was published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website on Monday.
Russia sets conditions
Lavrov also reiterated the demand that Ukraine must not join NATO, branding the government in Kyiv as a "neo-Nazi regime." Russia further insists on "overcoming the consequences" of pro-European forces taking power in Ukraine in 2014. The Russian minister repeated unfounded claims about the alleged destruction of the Russian language and culture in Ukraine.
The minister reportedly mentioned in the interview that Russia wants these "commitments" to be permanent and "enshrined in law." - On the agenda is the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine, lifting sanctions against Russia, cancelling legal proceedings and arrest warrants, and returning the frozen Russian assets in the West," Lavrov stated, reiterating the language Russia used to justify its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Kremlin spokesperson on "readiness" for negotiations
Lavrov emphasised that Russia will seek robust security guarantees in response to threats posed by the hostile activities of NATO, the European Union, and individual member states on the western borders.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov assured of Russia's willingness for direct negotiations with Ukraine "without any preconditions," but stressed that "the signal of readiness for direct talks should come from Kyiv. So far, Kyiv has not demonstrated its ability to negotiate".
