Russia-Ukraine War: Ready For Talks If Ukraine 'Lays Down Arms', Says Foreign Minister Lavrov

If Ukraine's military surrendered, Moscow would be ready for negotiations, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. (Source: Getty Images)

New Delhi: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday said that if Ukraine's military surrendered, Moscow would be ready for negotiations, insisting that invading forces were seeking to liberate the nation from "oppression", news agency AFP reported.

While addressing the media, the Russian Foreign Minister said, "Russian President Vladimir Putin took the decision to conduct a special military operation to demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine so that, freed from oppression, Ukrainians themselves could freely determine their future."

The remark implied that Moscow aims to use its invasion to destabilise the Ukrainian government.

Lavrov stated that Moscow is willing to hold negotiations with Kyiv if the Ukrainian army surrenders.

"We are ready for negotiations at any moment, as soon as the armed forces of Ukraine respond to our call and lay down their arms," Lavrov was quoted by AFP in its report.

He stated that Putin's operation's goal was "openly declared: demilitarisation and de-Nazification."

According to Lavrov, "nobody plans to invade Ukraine."

Despite significant evidence of damage to residential areas, he refuted Ukrainian charges that Russian soldiers had targeted civilian facilities.

Additionally, Lavrov also said that Russia wants the Ukrainian people to be independent and have the possibility to freely define their destiny adding that the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was lying when he said he was ready to discuss the neutral status of Ukraine.

"Russia will ensure the demilitarisation of Ukraine but sees no possibility of recognising the current Ukrainian government as democratic," Russian lawmaker said.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Army has claimed that Russian security forces are advancing towards capital Kyiv from the northeast and east.

In the early hours of Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed the start of a significant military campaign in Ukraine. Since then, Western nations have placed a slew of international penalties on Russia.