Russia Ready to Return to “Istanbul Principles” on Ukraine Settlement

Sudan Events – Agencies

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that his country is ready to return to the “Istanbul Principles” on the Ukrainian settlement agreed upon and signed in the spring of 2022, taking into account “new realities.”

In an interview with the Russian newspaper RBC, Lavrov said, “These principles remain relevant today. President Vladimir Putin has said this many times. If they want negotiations, at least let Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cancel the decree that prohibits them,” according to the Russian news agency Sputnik.

Lavrov stressed that “these principles are still in place. At least we are ready to return to them, but of course, considering the new realities.”

Ukraine presented its peace plan during a summit in Switzerland last June, which calls for the withdrawal of Russian forces from all Ukrainian territories, including Crimea.

However, Russia rejects this and insists that Kyiv must recognize Moscow’s control over 30% of Ukraine’s territory for peace talks to occur.