Lavrov sets conditions for recognizing Ukraine as an independent state: what his statement implies
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed his stance on Ukraine’s status and its potential recognition as an independent country amid recent political and diplomatic developments.
According to him, Ukraine has a right to exist, but only under the condition that it abandons the territories annexed by Russia following the pseudo-referendums held in 2022.
Lavrov emphasized that the current status of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions has become a subject of international dispute and internal political maneuvering.
He claimed that these territories should be recognized as part of Russian culture and history, and their return to Ukraine is only possible if Kyiv’s government abandons its claims to these regions.
The minister also highlighted the importance of comprehensive security guarantees for Ukraine, which must be accepted through consensus.
Russia desires participation in their formulation.
At the same time, Lavrov warned that delaying or ignoring security guarantees could lead to further escalation and regional destabilization.
He paid particular attention to the history of the pseudo-referendums conducted by occupation administrations in September 2022, results of which ranged from 87% to 99% in favor of annexation to Russia.
Subsequently, Putin signed decrees formalizing these regions’ accession to Russia and declared their population as Russian citizens.
These developments are increasingly consolidating Russia’s stance of non-recognition of any changes unless formally and unilaterally declared.
This complicates diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.