In order for the negotiations to begin, Ukraine will have to guarantee that its territory will be neutral and free of weapons. If these conditions are met, Russia will conclude its operation.
On Friday, Russia's Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country has no purpose of occupying Ukraine and Moscow is ready to hold negotiations straight after the Ukrainian forces "lay down their arms."
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"Russia will ensure the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. We have suffered too much from Nazism, and the Ukrainian people suffered too much to just turn a blind eye to all this," Lavrov said during a press conference.
"No one will abuse the Ukrainian soldiers, who can return to their families after ending hostilities," Lavrov said, adding that his country has always been in favor of talks and there is still a chance for dialogue on Russia's security concerns.
"We have always advocated a diplomatic solution. It was Russia that played a decisive role in laying a reliable foundation for a diplomatic solution, the Minsk agreements," the minister said.
State security building in Chernigov on fire. City on highway E95 north of Kiev taken by Russia. pic.twitter.com/dt4RPov4zb
— jeet ਪ੍ਰਭਜੀਤ������ (@jeetsidhu_) February 25, 2022
According to information released by the Kremlin on Friday, President Xi Jinping assured President Vladimir Putin that China respects the Russian actions in the Ukrainian crisis.
The Chinese president's statements occurred during a telephone conversation that had a "constructive and friendly" character and showed the coincidence of positions of the two countries regarding the main issues on the international agenda.
"The Russian president informed the Chinese president in detail about the reasons for his decision to recognize the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics and to carry out a special military operation aimed at protecting the civilian population from genocide and ensuring the demilitarization and denazification of the Ukrainian state," the Kremlin said.
#Ukraine | The People's Militia of the LPR publishes images of how soldiers of the 57th brigade of the Ukrainian army lay down their weapons. After the end of hostilities, they will be allowed to return home, they said in the LPR. pic.twitter.com/nXOGuAsisz
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) February 24, 2022