Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s core conditions for ending the war in Ukraine during an interview published Monday with Hungarian outlet Magyar Nemzet. Lavrov’s comments signal a continuation of Russia’s uncompromising position, even as diplomatic pressure increases from the West—particularly from the United States.
In the interview, Lavrov outlined six primary demands:
Demilitarization and Denazification: Russia insists that any peace agreement include provisions to demilitarize Ukraine and remove what it alleges are ultranationalist and anti-Russian elements embedded in Ukraine’s political and military structures.
Recognition of Territorial Changes: Moscow demands international recognition of Crimea, Sevastopol, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, as part of the Russian Federation.
Ukrainian Neutrality: Ukraine must renounce NATO membership and revert to a non-aligned, non-nuclear stance, as originally declared in its 1990 Declaration of State Sovereignty and 1991 Declaration of Independence.
Protection of Russian-Speaking Populations: Russia seeks binding guarantees for the rights of Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine, citing what it claims is a campaign to eradicate Russian language, culture, Orthodox Christianity, and media since the 2014 change in government.
Lifting of Sanctions and Return of Assets: The Kremlin demands that all sanctions against Russia be lifted, lawsuits against the state withdrawn, and that Western-held frozen Russian assets be returned.
Security Assurances: A broader requirement involves addressing what Moscow sees as strategic threats posed by NATO’s eastward expansion and Ukraine’s potential future accession to the alliance.
These conditions mirror longstanding demands voiced by various Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin himself. They were also reportedly communicated to Ukrainian negotiators during a second round of talks held in Istanbul on June 2.
The restatement of Russia’s position comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Putin, which he later described as “disappointing.” According to sources familiar with the call, Trump threatened additional sanctions on Russia should Moscow refuse to agree to an unconditional ceasefire.
Lavrov appeared to indirectly respond to those reports, telling Magyar Nemzet, “We do not need a pause that the Kiev regime and its external handlers would like to take to regroup troops, continue mobilization, and strengthen military capabilities.”
The diplomatic standoff comes amid growing constraints on U.S. support for Ukraine. Due to critical shortages of key systems—including Patriot air defense missiles—Washington has recently paused several military shipments. Analysts now estimate it could take the U.S. at least four years to replenish its weapons stockpiles to pre-2022 levels.