Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the demilitarization and 'denazification' of Ukraine are mandatory conditions for ending the war. According to Lavrov, Ukraine must also remove any threats to Russia, prevent possible NATO accession, and ensure the rights of Russian-speaking citizens and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Lavrov mentioned the need to apply procedures similar to the Nuremberg Trials, implying prosecution of Ukraine's military-political leadership.
These demands are not new but carry fresh emphasis this time—signaling not only conditions to end the war but also an ideological justification for a tribunal against the Ukrainian authorities. Russian propaganda insists that leadership since 2014 bears responsibility for alleged crimes against the population of Donbas.
Meanwhile, there are ongoing discussions about a separate tribunal regarding Russia's actions, but Lavrov stresses the need for a 'mirror' process against Ukraine. This aligns with Russia's ideological approach favoring continuation of the war rather than peace.
Against this backdrop, Ukraine announced it is suspending peace negotiations with Russia. Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia told the Times that talks ended due to lack of progress. At the same time, Russia claims readiness to resume Istanbul-format talks. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov traveled to Turkey, officially to discuss POW exchanges, though the full scope of negotiations remains unclear.
