Russia is ready to negotiate with the Ukrainian authorities if Ukraine “lays down its arms,” the head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, said on Friday.
“We are ready to negotiate at any time, as soon as the Ukrainian armed forces listen to our call and lay down their arms,” Lavrov told a news conference.
The Russian Foreign Minister also claimed that the goal of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was to “liberate” Ukrainians “from oppression”, implying that Moscow intended to overthrow the current government.
“President [Vladimir] Putin made the decision for this special military operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine so that, freed from this oppression, Ukrainians can freely choose their future,” he said.
The veteran Russian diplomat also echoed the words of the Kremlin chief, assuring that “no one is preparing to occupy Ukraine. The objective of the operation is clear: demilitarization and de-azification.”
Russia accuses Ukraine of committing “genocide” of the Russian-speaking population of the east without providing any evidence.
“We want the people of Ukraine, all Ukrainian peoples, to freely determine their future,” Lavrov said.
