Sergey Lavrov demands participation of Ukrainians living in Russia in Ukraine's presidential election
Photo: Sergey Lavrov (Getty Images)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Ukrainians living in Russia should be allowed to vote in Ukraine’s presidential election, according to Lavrov’s interview with Russian media.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov once again repeated Russia’s false claims that the mandate of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy allegedly expired in May 2024.
Lavrov said that, in his view, elections in Ukraine should be held “as provided for by law,” arguing that the country’s leadership must obtain a mandate to conclude peace agreements. He claimed this could be achieved only through elections and a “transparent and fair” campaign involving all interested political forces, adding that Ukrainians living in Russia should also be allowed to participate.
At the same time, Lavrov asserted that organizing a vote should not be used as a pretext for a temporary ceasefire that, he alleged, would allow Ukraine to rearm its armed forces.
Other statements by Lavrov
As previously reported by RBC-Ukraine, Lavrov has also said that Moscow sees no readiness on Ukraine’s part for what he called “constructive negotiations” to end the war. He has repeatedly accused Ukraine—without evidence—of targeting civilians and carrying out sabotage against civilian infrastructure.
Lavrov additionally warned Europe that if military contingents from the so-called “coalition of the willing” were deployed in Ukraine, they would become “legitimate targets” for Russia’s armed forces.
He also claimed that on the night of December 29 Ukraine had allegedly carried out a drone attack on a state residence of Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Russia’s Novgorod region, saying that Moscow would revise its negotiating position in response.
