Russia will also not accept the deployment of a European peacekeeping force, as proposed by US President-elect Donald Trump's team of advisers.
In an interview with TASS news agency on December 29, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized: "We are always ready to negotiate, but we need to clearly understand with whom and about what issue."
According to the Russian Foreign Minister, proposals circulated in the media, including postponing Ukraine's NATO membership for 20 years and establishing a demilitarized zone controlled by European forces, are unacceptable.
“We are not satisfied with these ideas,” Lavrov stressed, criticizing them as temporary solutions that do not address the root of the problem.
Previously, Mr. Trump had pledged during the election campaign to find a quick diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict, but did not give specific details.
Mr. Lavrov said that peace can only be achieved through reliable legal agreements, thoroughly addressing the causes of the conflict and preventing future violations.
He reiterated President Vladimir Putin's position that any negotiations must be based on the realities that have emerged since 2022. This includes the recognition of the Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions that became part of Russia after referendums.
Russia also maintains its stance that Ukraine must have a neutral, non-aligned status, in order to prevent the country from joining NATO and prohibit the deployment of foreign weapons on Ukrainian territory.
The Russian Foreign Minister noted that until Mr. Trump officially takes office on January 20, 2025, US policy will still be decided by the current administration. Mr. Lavrov emphasized that Russia has not received any official signals from Mr. Trump's team regarding the resolution of the Ukraine conflict.
“We will not rely on media leaks or isolated statements. We need concrete actions and clear legal commitments,” he said.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has been going on since 2014, has seen numerous failed attempts at reconciliation. Russia continues to insist that any solution that does not take into account Moscow’s security interests will be rejected.
