Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has claimed that any resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict must begin with halting what he described as Ukraine’s “legislative extermination” of Russian identity within its borders.

Speaking in Bishkek after talks with Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev, Lavrov alleged that Kyiv has systematically removed Russian language rights in education, media, and cultural institutions, despite these being constitutionally protected.

“It is no less important to stop the criminal activity of the Kyiv regime in legislatively exterminating everything Russian,” Lavrov said, as reported by Russian state agency TASS. He added that Russian-speaking Ukrainians are being deprived of basic cultural and linguistic rights at all societal levels.

Lavrov also reiterated Moscow’s longstanding position that NATO expansion and attempts to integrate Ukraine into the alliance are core causes of the conflict. “President Putin has repeatedly stressed the need to eliminate threats to Russia’s security, particularly those arising from NATO’s eastward expansion,” he said.

His comments follow renewed international attention on peace efforts after Ukraine and its Western allies dismissed Moscow’s latest terms as unacceptable.

Following the meeting, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kulubayev emphasized the strong bilateral ties between Kyrgyzstan and Russia, referring to it as a “special partnership.”

“Russia is one of the few states with which the Kyrgyz Republic has developed a special level of partnership and allied relations,” he said.

Lavrov’s statements come amid growing calls from the international community to de-escalate hostilities and revive negotiations, though deep divisions remain on terms for peace.