Lavrov called an essential condition for negotiations with Ukraine

Recognition of the four new subjects of Russia is an integral part of the conditions for starting negotiations with Ukraine, said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, transmits TASS.

“The president [РФ Владимир Путин] I have repeatedly said that we do not reject proposals to reach diplomatic agreements. The conditions under which we are ready to start discussing these agreements are well known. And an integral part of these conditions is the belonging of the four regions of the Russian Federation,” Lavrov said.

In addition, as the minister said, there are still a range of issues that need to be discussed. “The second big block of problems <...> – this is the security of the entire Russian Federation, which was subject to numerous threats created on Ukrainian territory, ”Lavrov emphasized. In this matter, the head of the Foreign Ministry touched upon the exercises conducted by Ukraine in the Black Sea. “The territory of Ukraine was being developed quite actively, including the planning of creating a naval base on the Sea of ​​Azov,” the minister continued. According to Lavrov, the appearance of a naval base of Anglo-Saxon origin “would radically change the security situation.”

Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov has repeatedly said that the Ukrainian side needs to take into account the new regions of Russia. December 28, the Kremlin representative declaredthat the “peace plan” being developed by Kyiv should take into account the entry of new regions into Russia. At the same time, Peskov pointed out that so far Ukraine has not presented any plan.

On December 13, Peskov, commenting on the statement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the “three steps” towards peace, also notedthat Ukraine needs to “take into account the realities that have developed over all this time.” He said that these realities indicate that Russia, as a result of the referendums, has new territories. According to him, “without taking into account these new realities, any progress is impossible.”

Since the outbreak of hostilities, the parties have held talks several times in February and March, mediated by Turkey. The previous meeting of representatives of Russia and Ukraine took place on March 29 in Istanbul, after which the process was frozen, since Ukraine withdrew from it. Later, a law was passed in Ukraine prohibiting negotiations with Russia.