Russia is open to negotiations to resolve the Ukrainian conflict, but these discussions must address its “root causes” and reflect realities on the ground, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview on Sunday. at the RIA Novosti agency.
MOSCOW, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) — Russia is open to negotiations to resolve the Ukraine conflict, but these discussions must address its “root causes” and reflect realities on the ground, the Russian affairs minister said Sunday. Foreign Ministers, Sergei Lavrov, in an interview with the RIA Novosti agency.
“We are ready for negotiations, but they must aim to address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and take into account the real situation on the ground,” he said.
Lavrov stressed the need to ensure Ukraine’s “non-aligned, neutral status” and “non-nuclear status” in order to “eliminate long-term threats that the West, including “NATO expansion weighs on Russia’s security.”
“kyiv must assume specific obligations to guarantee the rights, freedoms and interests of Russian-speaking citizens,” he added.
Previously, the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said that Ukraine was not ready to start negotiations with Russia, as it did not have enough Western support to engage from a position of strength , in an interview with Suspilne on December 12, according to local media Kyiv Independent.
