Lavrov: US bases Ukraine talks on ‘facts on the ground’

The United States is basing its contacts with Russia over Ukraine on recognition of the “facts on the ground.”

Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made the remarks while answering a question on the “Big Game” program.

According to Lavrov, US President’s Special Representative Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are basing their talks on the position outlined by US President Donald Trump after returning to the White House. Under that position, Ukraine’s involvement in NATO is unacceptable.

The Russian foreign minister said the second key element of the US position was recognition of the “facts on the ground.” Lavrov stressed that this concerned not only territories but also people.

He claimed that following what he described as a coup in February 2014, those people were called “non-humans,” “creatures” and “terrorists.” Lavrov said the army was deployed against them after they refused to accept the consequences of the coup.

Lavrov also commented on statements by Kyiv that the peace terms had been toughened after Witkoff and Kushner’s visit.

The Russian foreign minister described the statements as speculation by the Ukrainian authorities.

The comments come against the backdrop of continuing diplomatic contacts concerning a possible settlement of the Ukraine conflict. The parties have publicly maintained differing positions on security arrangements, territorial issues and the conditions for a potential peace agreement.