MOSCOW, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia recognizes there is no easy resolution to the Ukrainian crisis and holds no illusions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.
"We have had no illusions and currently don't have any about the prospects for an easy resolution of the Ukrainian crisis," Lavrov said during an interview.
Lavrov said the crisis could only "be resolved in the context of an agreement on reliable security and stability in Europe," which would reflect Russia's interests and the interests of all other countries.
The Russian foreign minister also said Moscow has no illusions concerning changes with the arrival of the Donald Trump administration in the United States.
He said that the principles formulated by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis were not preconditions but rather were based on international law.
"We have never abandoned negotiations ... however we need to see serious, concrete proposals when they are presented to us," Lavrov said.
Regarding the ceasefire that the West and Ukraine are currently discussing, Lavrov said Russia needs reliable, legally binding agreements that would eliminate the root causes of the conflict. ■