Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia does not insist on the Ukrainian language granting state status to Russian. According to Lavrov, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refused any discussions regarding a second state language, and Moscow is not making this issue a major focus.
“He said there would be no state Russian language, but overall no one particularly insists on this. The first step, which does not depend on the wishes of Zelensky or anyone else, is the repeal of all laws that grossly violate UN statutes and banned the Russian language and the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” Lavrov stated.
Calls for preserving the negotiation process
Lavrov accused Western countries of trying to hinder the negotiation process initiated by the presidents of Russia and the USA in Alaska. He believes that attempts to disrupt this process must stop. The delegations of Russia and Ukraine continue contacts in Istanbul, although Lavrov called Zelensky's statements about a possible meeting with Putin 'a pointless game.'
The Russian Foreign Minister also recognizes Zelensky as 'de facto head of the regime', but considers him illegitimate from the perspective of the Ukrainian constitution.
Lavrov previously criticized a possible agreement between Presidents Putin and Trump, but now calls to preserve the negotiation process.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that Russia does not insist on granting state status to the Russian language in Ukraine, and also called for preserving the negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine. Lavrov expressed outrage at attempts to hinder negotiations and called Zelensky's statements about a meeting with Putin 'a pointless game.'