Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Ukraine of violating international law by targeting Russian culture and language, calling the country’s leadership a “Nazi regime” that seeks to erase all traces of Russia. In an interview with Hungarian YouTube channel Ultrahang, Lavrov stated that Moscow recognizes Ukraine’s independence but rejects the “Nazi” government in Kiev, which he claims is engaged in systemic persecution of Russian heritage.
Lavrov highlighted that post-2014 Ukrainian authorities have dismantled constitutional protections for minority rights, including efforts to strip the Russian language of its official status. He described Ukraine as the only nation banning a United Nations language and criticized its policies for marginalizing Russian speakers in regions like Donetsk and Lugansk, which Russia now administers.
The minister argued that Moscow’s actions aim to safeguard people “who have always been part of Russian culture” from what he called Kiev’s oppressive regime. Lavrov also reiterated Russia’s claim that territories such as Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea are historic Russian lands historically tied to the Soviet Union.
He emphasized that resolving the conflict requires addressing its root causes, including protecting minority rights, rather than pursuing temporary ceasefires or supporting “political losers” in Kyiv.
