Zelensky’s plan is ‘schizophrenic’ – Lavrov

Stability can only be ensured by providing long-term security guarantees, the Russian foreign minister has said

The plans for resolving the Ukraine conflict proposed by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky range from “stupid” to unhinged, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday during an international conference on Eurasian security in Minsk.  

The diplomat recalled that since 2014, Ukraine has adopted increasingly draconian anti-Russian policies, starting with the ban on the Russian language in schools and in virtually all spheres of life, to the recent outlawing of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has canonical ties with Moscow.  

Lavrov pointed out that the measures taken by Ukraine over the past decade go against the UN Charter, which demands that all people be treated equally regardless of their gender, race, language, or religion.  

“But the West is turning a blind eye to these gross violations of the UN charter by the Russophobic and racist Kiev regime,” Lavrov said, noting that instead, Ukraine’s backers have been promoting “Zelensky’s dead-end and, I would even say, stupid ‘peace formula’ which calls for Russia’s capitulation.”  

“Several weeks ago, [Zelensky] also published a no less schizophrenic ‘victory plan’,” Lavrov added, stressing that neither the formula, nor the plan, nor Kiev’s “fantasies” about becoming a member of NATO or EU are helping to establish peace in Europe.  

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“Stability in this part of the Eurasian continent will be achieved only if long-term, reliable guarantees in the area of security are provided,” the Russian minister said.  

Earlier this month in an interview with Newsweek, Lavrov reiterated that Russia remains open to diplomatically settling the Ukraine conflict once and for all by finding a solution that would resolve its root causes. However, he pointed out that neither Kiev nor its Western backers appear to be open to such a resolution and are seeking to prolong the hostilities.   

“Under the circumstances, we have no choice but to continue our special military operation until the threats posed by Ukraine are removed,” Lavrov said in the interview , noting that the greatest cost in this conflict is being paid by the Ukrainian people, who are being “ruthlessly pushed by their own authorities to the war to be slaughtered there.”