Serghei Lavrov stated that a lasting peace with Ukraine requires international recognition of the regions annexed by Russia, including Crimea.

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, stated that to achieve a lasting peace with Ukraine, it is essential for the new territorial realities, including the annexed regions such as Donetsk and Crimea, to be recognized internationally. Russia demands that Ukraine cede these territories and abandon its NATO membership, conditions unacceptable to Kiev and its allies. Ukraine calls for the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory, while Lavrov accuses Ukraine of refusing meaningful negotiations.