The Russian Foreign Minister clarified on Friday that he does not consider it likely that Moscow will recognise the current Ukrainian authorities as democratic.
«The president Putin took the decision to this special military operation demilitarisation, denazification, to free themselves from this oppression,» Lavrov said.
«Ukrainians will be able to freely choose their future,» he added, speaking during a meeting with officials of the self-declared republics of the Donetsk and Lugansk in the eastern Ukraine.
The Russian minister also rejected the statements of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who has indicated that he is ready to discuss neutrality status for his country and added that Moscow is ready for talks as soon as the Ukrainian army stops fighting.
Conflicting information from the Kremlin
A few hours ago, however, according to AFP, Lavrov confirmed that Moscow is ready to sit at the negotiating table.
It is noted that at the same time - speaking to Reuters - the Mihailo Pontoliak, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, said that Kiev «wants peace and is ready for talks with Russia, including the adoption of a neutral status as far as NATO is concerned».
According to Reuters, the Kremlin recognises Zelensky as president of the country and is preparing to negotiate the neutrality of Ukraine, without clarifying how long the operations will last.
