Only a duly-elected government can formalize the end to the conflict with Russia, the foreign minister says

A new Ukrainian government must be elected by a legitimate inclusive vote before a peace treaty can be signed with Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

Presidential and parliamentary elections have been suspended in Ukraine under martial law, with Vladimir Zelensky's mandate to lead the country expiring last year. In an interview with Rossiya Segodnya media group, Lavrov dismissed the idea that a temporary ceasefire is needed so that the current Ukrainian administration can hold a referendum on peace terms.

"The leadership in Kiev needs a mandate to seal a peace agreement. Only an election following a transparent and fair electoral campaign, in which all interested political forces take part, can provide that," Lavrov said.

"The Ukrainian people, including many who live in Russia, have to finally be given an opportunity to determine their fate," he added. "Organizing the ballot must not be used as a pretext for a temporary ceasefire to rearm the Ukrainian army."

Before his meeting with US President Donald Trump last weekend, Zelensky said a ceasefire of at least 60 days would be needed for his team to put the peace deal being mediated by Washington to a general vote. He also described Moscow's call for the millions of Ukrainian citizens living in Russia to have the ability to participate in a potential election as a ploy to delegitimize his government.

Zelensky claimed martial law and mobilization can only be suspended if Western nations provide his country with the security guarantees in the 20-point plan he revealed last week - a plan Trump declined to endorse during their Miami meeting last week.

Lavrov stressed that Russia sees elections not as an end in themselves, but as a way for Ukraine to return to being a neutral nation that has no aspirations to join military blocs and respects the rights of all its citizens, including ethnic Russians. Any security guarantees it receives must address the security of all the nations on the continent, he added.