Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that the issue of sovereignty over the Crimean Peninsula, Donbas, and Novorossiya "has already been settled," stressing that these regions are considered part of Russia according to the country's constitution.
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In an interview with the "Vesti" news program on Russian state television, which was published on Wednesday, Lavrov said, "Crimea, Donbas, and Novorossiya are all issues that were settled long ago, in light of the results of the referendum reflected in our constitution."
Lavrov pointed out that Russia's stance is based on the constitutional framework that recognizes these areas as an integral part of Russia, according to RT.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had emphasized in remarks made in June that Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donetsk, Luhansk, and the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia is one of the conditions for peace with Kyiv.
Ukraine still refuses to acknowledge Russia's control over these territories, asserting that they are part of its own land, alongside the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow seized in 2014. Kyiv also demands a return to pre-2014 borders.
This comes amid the United States' ongoing efforts to mediate separate negotiations in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, between the warring sides to reach a partial ceasefire agreement in the Black Sea and energy facilities.
On Tuesday, the United States announced it had reached separate agreements with both Ukraine and Russia to halt attacks in the sea and target energy facilities.
The agreements are the first official commitments from both sides since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20, according to Reuters.
The White House stated that the U.S. and Ukraine had agreed to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea, cease the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes.
The statement also indicated that the two countries expressed a desire to work together on the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of detained civilians, and the return of abducted Ukrainian children.
It remains unclear when or how the security agreements in the Black Sea will be implemented. However, the agreement with Russia goes beyond that made with Ukraine, as Washington pledged to work on lifting international sanctions on Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports.
According to the Kremlin, the agreements regarding the Black Sea will not take effect unless certain links between some Russian banks and the global financial system are restored.
In contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the Kremlin's statements, indicating that his understanding was that the two ceasefire agreements did not require easing sanctions to take effect and would be implemented immediately.
In a recorded statement, the Ukrainian president described the Kremlin's statement as an attempt to "manipulate," saying, "Unfortunately... we see how the Russians have begun to manipulate. They are already trying to distort the agreements and deceive our mediators and the entire world."
Both Russia and Ukraine have stressed that they will rely on Washington to enforce the agreements, while each expressed doubts about the other's commitment, according to Reuters.
