Peace also requires guaranteeing the human rights of Russian-speaking people in the territories under Ukrainian control.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Affaurs Minister Sergey Lavrov said that his country is open to a political solution in Ukraine once threats to his country’s national security are eliminated.

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“Russia has always been and remains open to a political and diplomatic solution in Ukraine. However, this must be based on lasting peace, not just a cease-fire,” he said.

“It is crucial to eliminate the security threats to Russia caused by NATO’s expansion and Ukraine’s integration into the Atlantic Alliance,” Lavrov added, according to Hungarian news outlet Magyarnemzet.

The Russian official mentioned that another requirement from his government is ensuring the human rights of Russian-speaking populations in territories under Ukrainian control.

“The Kyiv regime has declared war on the Russian language and Russian culture,” Lavrov asserted, calling it “sad and alarming” that the European Union “fuels hostility” against his country. The EU has turned into “a kind of appendage of NATO,” he added.

The Foreign Minister denied that Russia has plans to attack Europe and claimed that when European leaders speak of such a danger, they “are trying to divert attention from their failure to address real problems.”

“We appreciate the balanced policies of the Hungarian government, which, despite constant pressure from NATO and the EU, maintains a pragmatic approach in its relations with our country,” Lavrov also noted.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who considers Lavrov “a friend,” has made more than a dozen trips to Moscow since the start of the Russian military special operation in Ukraine.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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