Russia's conditions are no involvement of Ukraine in NATO, no NATO expansion at all - Russian FM

SOLNECHNOGORSK. July 28 (Interfax) - Russia insists on the unacceptability of further involvement of Ukraine and further expansion of the alliance, on recognition of the territorial reality outlined in the Russian Constitution, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"We insist on what is our lawful demand. Namely, that our security should be ensured. No involvement of Ukraine in NATO, no expansion of NATO at all - it has already expanded right to our borders as it is, despite all promises and documents that were adopted," Lavrov said at the Terra Scientia forum.

"There was no alternative to starting the special military operation," the minister said.

"They sometimes say they have taken the territories and they need to leave them. These territories are not important to us, we have the biggest country in the world. It is important to us that the people who have lived there for centuries, who want to raise their children in this culture, that these people should not be exterminated, and that their rights should be defended. It's an absolutely lawful demand," Lavrov said.

"And of course, recognition of the reality that is outlined in our constitution, there is absolutely no alternative to this demand," the Russian minister said.

"We have a lot to do," Lavrov said.