MOSCOW – September 4, 2025 – Russia's Foreign Minister today laid out a set of formal conditions that Moscow considers essential for achieving a "long-term and sustainable peace" in Ukraine, a move that reiterates the Kremlin's long-standing demands as fighting continues on the ground.
In a major foreign policy speech delivered in Moscow, the minister detailed a multi-point framework that effectively calls for a fundamental realignment of Ukraine's geopolitical standing. The conditions, which have been communicated through various channels before, were presented as a non-negotiable basis for the cessation of hostilities.
The core conditions put forth by Russia include:
Guaranteed Military Neutrality: Ukraine must formally legislate its status as a neutral, non-aligned state. This would require amending its constitution to remove aspirations of joining NATO and any other military alliance. Russia insists this is a foundational requirement to address its security concerns.
"Demilitarization": While the specifics remain subject to negotiation, Moscow insists on significant limitations being placed on the size and capabilities of Ukraine's armed forces. The goal, according to the minister, is to ensure Ukraine does not pose a future military threat to Russia.
Recognition of "New Territorial Realities": Russia demands that Kyiv and the international community formally recognize its sovereignty over Crimea and other Ukrainian territories that Moscow has declared as part of the Russian Federation. This remains one of the most contentious points of the conflict.
Protection of Russian-Speaking Citizens: The framework calls for robust legal protections and language rights for the Russian-speaking population throughout Ukraine.
The speech was delivered to an audience of diplomats and policymakers and appeared timed to project Russia's diplomatic stance on the global stage. The Foreign Minister stated that any peace process that ignores these "fundamental realities" is "doomed to fail."
The announcement was met with immediate and firm rejection from Kyiv. An advisor to the Ukrainian Presidential Office called the conditions "a demand for capitulation" and a "complete non-starter." Ukrainian officials reiterated that peace can only be achieved with the full withdrawal of Russian troops from all of Ukraine's internationally recognized territory, including Crimea.
Western leaders are also expected to dismiss the Russian proposal, viewing it as an attempt to legitimize territorial gains achieved through military force, which would violate core principles of international law.
