The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the primary condition for achieving peace in Ukraine is the international recognition by the Russian leadership of regions such as Crimea, Sevastopol, as well as the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions as part of Russia. According to him,
This is reported by Kyiv24
“The imperative is the international recognition of the Russian ownership of Crimea, Sevastopol, «DPR», «LPR», Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. All obligations of Kyiv must be legally enshrined, have enforcement mechanisms, and be of an indefinite nature”
(quote from the Russian Foreign Ministry).
Lavrov noted that the agenda in Russia also includes issues of demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, lifting sanctions, legal claims and arrest warrants, as well as the return of frozen Russian assets in the West. He emphasized that these measures are part of Russia’s diplomatic and political strategy.
History and Current State of Russian Occupations
Russia annexed Crimea and Sevastopol in 2014, declaring them part of its territory, and also established control over parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including their regional centers. Following the large-scale invasion in February 2022, Russian troops occupied almost the entire Luhansk region, most of Donetsk, as well as parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. However, currently, Russia does not control the regional centers of the last two regions.
It is worth noting that despite losses and occupation, Russia has incorporated these four Ukrainian regions into its constitution within their administrative borders, which confirms its intention to solidify its positions in the region.