Moscow’s firm position that any political and diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine must take into account Russia’s “legitimate interests” in the field of security and the protection of the rights of the Russian and Russian-speaking population was reiterated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Speaking at a press conference after talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Lavrov stressed that “a political and diplomatic settlement is impossible without eliminating the root causes of the conflict.”

The Russian minister even recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the same issue in a recent telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on July 3, a few days before US Independence Day.

According to Lavrov, Moscow cannot accept any resolution of the Ukrainian issue that ignores Russian security concerns. “The resolution of the conflict must eliminate and guarantee the non-repetition of violations of the rights of the Russian-speaking and Russian population,” he said.

“It is not possible” at this stage for Russia to “achieve” its goals through diplomatic means, the Kremlin says

Meanwhile, the Kremlin today assessed that it is “not possible” at this stage for Russia to “achieve” its goals in Ukraine through diplomatic means, adding that it is closely monitoring all statements by US President Donald Trump.

Trump, who last week had emphatically stated that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, “seeks to settle” the war in Ukraine, indicated yesterday (Thursday) after a new phone call with him that he was “disappointed”, assessing that the Russian leader does not want an end to the war.

When asked about it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov replied, “Of course we are paying close attention to all of President Trump’s statements.” However, he did not comment on the US president’s criticisms.

Moreover, Peskov pointed out that Putin told Trump that Moscow would prefer to achieve its goals in Ukraine by political and diplomatic means, but in the meantime would continue “its special military operation.”

“We would prefer to do it through diplomatic means. But as long as this does not seem feasible, we will continue the special military operation,” he stressed.

Finally, the Kremlin spokesman said the Russian president told his US counterpart that Moscow is expected to agree to a third round of peace talks with Kyiv after the first two rounds in May and June.