Khaberni - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov highlighted essential conditions that Moscow considers necessary to settle the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing that these demands are indispensable for any sustainable political settlement.
Lavrov explained that these conditions revolve around three main items: the recognition of the new regional realities, saying, "Firstly, Kyiv and its Western sponsors must officially recognize the current situation resulting from the reunification of Crimea, Sevastopol, the Donetsk People's Republic, the Luhansk People's Republic, and the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson with the Russian Federation," according to "Russia Today" channel.
He added that the second condition is the establishment of legally binding security guarantees, aimed at addressing the "root causes" of the conflict, which would prevent its recurrence in the future.
He continued that the third condition is "ensuring Ukraine's neutrality, wherein it would be a state not aligned with any military alliance, free from nuclear weapons, devoid of offensive weaponry, and purged from Nazism, with a complete halt to the use of its territory for military purposes by NATO countries."
Lavrov noted that the security proposals Russia presented in December 2021 still represent "a suitable starting point for discussion" on these issues.
Lavrov emphasized that "the strategic initiative is entirely in the hands of the Russian military, and the West is aware of this," reiterating Moscow's consistent stance that the goals of the "special military operation" will be achieved "preferably through diplomacy, but if necessary, by military means," as recently affirmed by President Vladimir Putin.
Lavrov called for elections to be held in Ukraine, pointing out that "Vladimir Zelensky's presidential term ended in May 2024," and that the Ukrainian people "must be given the opportunity to determine their destiny," including "the vast number of its representatives living in Russia."
Lavrov warned against using any electoral process "as a pretext for a temporary cessation of hostilities for the purpose of rearming Ukrainian forces."
