Lavrov: "Zelensky is not legitimate. The meeting was inappropriate."

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gave an interview to NBC, widely reported by RIA Novosti, in which he discussed Volodymyr Zelensky's legal status, territorial issues, security guarantees, Russia's goals, and the conditions under which Ukraine has the right to exist.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov (AFP)

Lavrov's attack on Zelensky According to Lavrov, " Zelensky is no longer a person entitled to sign legal documents on the Ukraine agreement , which is why Moscow does not consider it rational to hold such a summit simply to give the head of the Kiev regime the opportunity to assert his legitimacy and be the center of attention." However, the head of Russian diplomacy emphasized, "Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky if he really had a presidential agenda."

"It's unclear why the meeting should be held." Furthermore, Moscow believes that, following Zelensky's latest statements, "it's unclear why the meeting should be held." In the interview, Lavrov refers to the fact that the Ukrainian leader has publicly rejected the possibility of discussing the territories, has not abandoned his desire to join NATO, and does not intend to restore the rights of the Russian-speaking population.

"The Russian proposal to raise the level of delegation heads is aimed at resolving specific issues that need to be brought to the attention of Putin and Zelensky," Lavrov emphasized, assuring that "the Russian and Ukrainian delegations have met and will continue to meet in Istanbul to discuss political, military, and humanitarian issues." The Ukrainian Foreign Minister also noted that so far, the Ukrainian side has not responded to the proposal to create three separate working groups for different areas.

The Goals of the War in Ukraine Regarding Russia's goals, Lavrov listed eliminating any threat to Russia's security emanating from Ukrainian territory and protecting the rights of ethnic Russians and Russian-speakers who feel part of Russian culture and history. "Ukraine must maintain neutral, non-aligned status and remain a non-nuclear state. Russia has no interest in the territories. Moscow is interested in the fate of the people living in Donbas and Novorossiya," the minister stated.

"Ukraine has the right to exist on the condition that it 'liberates' people. People they call ' terrorists ,' 'individuals' who, in various referendums in Novorossiya, Donbass, and Crimea, have decided that they belong to Russian culture," Lavrov continued.

Regarding Ukraine's security guarantees, he believes there should be a consensus that takes into account Russia's fundamental interests. Moscow believes that, in this context, it is necessary to focus on the developments achieved in the 2022 Istanbul talks and will not accept collective security issues being resolved without them. "The West wants Ukraine's security to be strengthened against Russia, and is ready to send occupation forces to the republic's territory to contain Moscow. But this is not the way to proceed in this case," Lavrov reiterated. Regarding the relationship between Putin and Trump, the Russian minister emphasized that "they respect each other; both politicians protect the national interests of their respective countries." Finally, he denounced the fact that "Ukraine and the leaders of the European Union are trying to distort what the presidents of Russia and the United States said in Alaska."