Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has listed Moscow's demands for a peace deal that would end its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, including Kyiv's demilitarization and neutrality, international recognition of territory occupied by Moscow, and the lifting of sanctions.
"These provisions must be included in a legally binding agreement for peaceful settlement," Lavrov told Hungarian publication Magyar Nemzet in an interview.
Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian foreign ministry for comment.
President Donald Trump is trying to broker a swift end to Russia's war, a major test of his self-styled "peacemaker" status, but said a recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin left him very disappointed, and he did not think Moscow wanted to end the fighting.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pointed to the ongoing pounding of his country's cities by Russian strikes as evidence that Putin does not truly seek peace and intends to continue waging war to meet his goals until he is forced to stop.
Lavrov Details Russia's Demands
Lavrov said an end to the security threat posed to Russia by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) expansion, including its potential inclusion of Ukraine, was essential. He demanded the demilitarization of Ukraine to ensure Kyiv's neutrality.
Moscow's top diplomat also said his country wants protections for ethnic Russians and Russian culture in Ukraine, which he accused Kyiv of "destroying" since 2014.
Lavrov demanded "international legal recognition of the new territorial realities," citing Russian occupation of Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
And Lavrov also called for "lifting sanctions on Russia, rescinding all lawsuits against Russia, and returning the illegally seized Western-based assets."