Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace proposal, saying it was never taken seriously by Moscow. Lavrov noted that the West’s insistence on following Zelenskyy’s “peace formula” signals an unwillingness to make genuine agreements with Russia.
Speaking after the 7th Russia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue in Riyadh on September 9, Lavrov emphasised that the Ukrainian leader’s plan, which begins with calls to stop military operations and uphold international law, does not consider the complexities of international law. He also praised India and Brazil for their approach to helping resolve the conflict.
Lavrov remarked that the core of the West's adherence to Zelenskyy’s peace plan is to achieve a strategic victory over Russia rather than engage in fair negotiations. He pointed out that Russia is sceptical of the proposal because it is an ultimatum aimed at weakening Moscow’s global standing. This, he claimed, is done under pressure from Western nations, which are pushing their own agenda to claim Russia has suffered a military defeat.
Zelenskyy first proposed his 10-point peace formula in 2022 at the G20 Summit in Indonesia. The plan focuses on ensuring nuclear safety, food security, and establishing a special tribunal to investigate alleged Russian war crimes, with the ultimate goal of a final peace treaty with Moscow.
However, Lavrov said that Russia’s priority is to ensure that people connected to Russian culture, language, history, and religion are treated with the respect they deserve under international law.
Lavrov also referenced German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s recent call for dialogue, highlighting that Germany and other Western nations now recognize the need for discussions about territorial issues based on the realities on the ground.
He reiterated that Russia’s concern was never about territories but about the treatment of ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking people. According to Lavrov, these populations, especially in areas like eastern Ukraine, Novorossiya, and Crimea, have faced severe discrimination since Ukraine’s 2014 coup.
He noted that the Russian language has been virtually outlawed in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been targeted through legal measures.
Regarding Zelenskyy’s peace proposal, Lavrov expressed scepticism about its starting point, which emphasises Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the need to stop military operations.
He asserted that international law is not solely about territorial integrity but about ensuring the protection of all citizens, regardless of their background. He cited the UN Charter and international conventions on human and minority rights as central to Russia’s stance on the conflict, arguing that Ukraine’s government no longer represents the interests of all its citizens.
Lavrov emphasised that the conflict’s root cause is the exclusion of Russian-speaking communities from political and cultural life in Ukraine. He claimed that after the 2014 coup, neo-Nazis in Kiev imposed policies that marginalised Russian-speaking populations, especially in the eastern regions. These people were labelled as terrorists, he said, simply for resisting the new regime, which aimed to purge Ukraine of Russian influence.
In his discussions with counterparts from India and Brazil, Lavrov said he appreciated their measured and concerned approach to resolving the crisis. He noted that both nations understood the importance of addressing the rights of Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine, something he believes the West continues to ignore. Lavrov highlighted that India and Brazil’s involvement is essential because they bring a balanced perspective to peace efforts.
However, he stressed that none of the peace initiatives, even those with good intentions, address the fundamental issue of rights for Russian speakers in the regions Zelenskyy claims as part of Ukraine.
Lavrov also commended China’s stance on the conflict, particularly the Global Security Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to Lavrov, Xi’s proposal is crucial because it focuses on analysing the root causes of conflicts, rather than just their surface-level issues. Lavrov praised China for understanding that peace cannot be achieved without addressing the underlying concerns that have led to the conflict.
On the sidelines of the GCC meeting in Saudi Arabia, Lavrov also met with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. In a post on X, Jaishankar called the conversation with Lavrov a “useful” exchange. Russia continues to value the involvement of key global players like India and Brazil in the ongoing dialogue, as both countries offer alternative perspectives to the Western narrative.
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