Moscow—Russia—is ready for a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict over Ukraine, but does not see the need for temporary ceasefires, which, according to Moscow, Kiev and the West can use to regroup their troops and restore military potential. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated this in an interview with the Magyar Nemzet newspaper of Hungary.

“We do not need a pause that the Kiev regime and its external sponsors will use to mobilize, regroup, and expand military capacity,” the Russian FM noted.

According to him, a long-term solution to the conflict requires addressing the fundamental causes—in particular, NATO expansion and attempts to engage Ukraine in this alliance.

Lavrov added that Russia's position requires ensuring the protection of human rights in the territories under Kiev's control and recognizing "new territorial realities"—in particular the inclusion of Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson into Russia.

"The residents of these territories have freely expressed their will through referendums," Lavrov noted.

Among the conditions for a peaceful settlement, the Russian FM noted as well the demilitarization and "denazification" of Ukraine, the lifting of sanctions on Russia, and the return of Russian assets frozen in the West.

Also, Lavrov stressed that all conditions should be enshrined in a legally binding document. In his assessment, Ukraine should return to a policy of neutrality, as stated in its 1990 Declaration of State Sovereignty and 1991 Declaration of Independence.