Foreign Minister Lavrov sets conditions for Russia to respect Ukraine's integrity

At the press conference of the 78th United Nations General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine, provided that the provisions adopted in the 1991 Declaration of Independence are implemented. Among other things, the document states Ukraine's non-aligned status.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated that Moscow recognized Ukraine's sovereignty on the basis of its declaration of independence, including respect for the rights of national minorities and their Russian-speaking peoples.

“But in the Declaration of Independence, one of the main points for us is: Ukraine will be a non-aligned state and will not join any military alliances. By that wording, under those conditions, we support the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

In this regard, Mr. Lavrov referred to the Declaration on Principles in Relations between Sovereign States on the basis of the United Nations Charter, which states that countries are obliged to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of those countries whose “governments respect the principle of self-determination of states and peoples”. From there, it represents all people living on this territory.

“In fact, when the Kiev government started a war against the people of Donbass, against Crimea, how can you say that this government represents the entire nation? We have no problem with the territorial integrity of Ukraine. It was destroyed by those who carried out and supported the coup. The so-called leaders declared war on their own people, and started bombing their own people,” Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stressed.

Mr. Lavrov also noted at the press conference that Moscow is ready for negotiations on Ukraine, but will not consider any ceasefire proposals, because Russia has been deceived once.

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