Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in an interview broadcast on the 'Russia 24' TV channel on the 19th that one cause of the Ukraine crisis is Russia’s security concerns, which are related to repeated breaches over decades of assurances given to Russia regarding 'no NATO eastward expansion.'
He said that the Russian president has repeatedly pointed out that after the commitment of 'no NATO eastward expansion,' the organization has carried out five waves of expansion.
He stated that if Russia’s security interests are not respected, and the rights of the Russian ethnic group and Russian-speaking people living in Ukraine are not adequately respected, there can be no talk of any long-term agreement.
Lavrov pointed out that the Russian side does not reject any working format (for resolving the Ukraine issue), whether it be bilateral or trilateral. It should gradually start at the expert level, go through all necessary stages, and then prepare for talks at the highest level.
The Russian and U.S. presidents held a meeting on the 15th in Anchorage, Alaska, USA. Both sides said the meeting was 'constructive' and 'fruitful,' but no agreements were reached on issues such as a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire.