Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with NBC News on Sunday that members of the UN Security Council should also participate in ensuring Ukraine's security.

According to Reuters , Lavrov spoke about an idea that had been floated before: Ukraine would remain a neutral zone, the security of which would have to be guaranteed by a group including members of the Security Council, Lavrov specifically highlighted Germany and Turkey. At the same time, Moscow's position remains unchanged that Ukraine's accession to NATO is unacceptable for Russia, and that NATO peacekeepers should not be stationed on Ukrainian territory.

The guarantors would guarantee Ukraine's security, the country must be neutral, not join any military bloc, and not possess nuclear weapons

Lavrov said.

The Russian foreign minister added that Moscow wants to provide protection to the Russian minority living in Ukraine, and that they would also discuss the settlement of territorial issues. Last week, at the Alaska meeting between Trump and Putin, it was said that the Russian president was asking for the Donbass in exchange for ending the war - including territories that were not occupied - which Zelensky refused.

During the interview, Lavrov also spoke about Volodymyr Zelensky, and

In a change from previous Russian communications, he stated:"We recognize Zelensky as the de facto leader of the regime."

The Kremlin previously did not recognize the Ukrainian president as the legitimate leader of Ukraine due to his presidential term expiring in May last year. Lavrov stated regarding the signing of legal documents, “everyone should clearly understand that according to the Constitution of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky is not currently the president.” Although he is recognized as the leader of the “regime” and is seen as a negotiating partner, it is another question what documents Zelensky can sign.

The Foreign Minister said that they have goals that they will achieve:"namely, to eliminate threats to Russia's security emanating from the territory of Ukraine, to protect the rights of Russian ethnic groups and Russian-speaking people who belong to Russian culture and history."

Trump's peace mission could be ended

As we wrote, Lavrov categorically stated that at the moment there is no meeting planned between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The minister clearly held Ukraine responsible for the stalling of the peace process.

The White House has been working intensively in recent weeks to secure a location and date for the summit, after Trump held talks with Putin, Zelensky and other European leaders.

Lavrov gave a behind-the-scenes look in the interview. “President Trump raised several issues after the Alaska meeting, some of which we agree with, and some of which we showed a willingness to be flexible,” he recalled of the August 15 meeting. The Russian foreign minister said Trump raised these issues at the Washington meeting as well, so “it became clear to everyone that there are some basic principles that Washington believes must be accepted,” referring to Ukraine’s exclusion from NATO and territorial issues.