Lavrov: Principles recognizing Ukraine's independence 'thrown in the trash'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that the principles based on the recognition of Ukraine's independence are no longer valid. In a statement reported by RIA Novosti, Lavrov said these principles had been 'thrown onto the trash heap for a long time.' These statements once again demonstrate the severity of Russia's official rhetoric regarding Ukraine's sovereignty.

Lavrov's statement follows his previous calls that a settlement in Ukraine is not possible without taking 'realities on the ground' into account. In the context of the conflict ongoing since 2022, Russia uses similar arguments to legitimize efforts to redraw Ukraine's current borders and status. In diplomacy, such statements are interpreted as hardening Russia's preconditions for negotiations.

The international community and Kyiv emphasize that Ukraine's independence was recognized via the 1991 referendum and within the framework of the United Nations, and is thus protected under international law. Lavrov's claim that the 'principles were thrown in the trash' is assessed as part of Russia's effort to legitimize its military operations in 2014 and 2022.