Lavrov Defines Russia's Conditions for Peace with Ukraine: Neutrality and No NATO Membership at the Forefront

In new and significant statements, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov revealed on Sunday the fundamental conditions that Russia deems necessary to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine. These remarks were made during an interview with NBC News, where Lavrov underscored that the primary condition is for Kyiv to remain outside of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Lavrov clarified that Ukraine's security would be guaranteed by "guarantor states" that ensure its neutrality. He stated: "Guarantor states will take care of the security of Ukraine, which must be neutral... non-aligned with any military bloc and non-nuclear." He indicated that these guarantor states could include members of the UN Security Council, as well as other nations like Germany and Turkey.

Lavrov affirmed that "Ukraine's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is unacceptable for Russia," adding that Moscow also seeks to protect the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine. He also pointed to the necessity of conducting crucial discussions with Ukraine regarding its territories, which reflects Russia's demand for control over certain regions.

In a related context, Lavrov disclosed that Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump had previously discussed the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine. Putin also referenced the Istanbul talks that took place in 2022, which failed to achieve their desired objectives.

These statements follow an earlier Reuters report, citing three high-level sources, which stated that Putin is demanding that Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region in the east, renounce its ambitions to join NATO, remain neutral, and prevent any Western forces from being stationed on its territory. These conditions reflect the steadfast Russian positions that Moscow aims to impose on Kyiv to end the conflict.