MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has explained Russia’s position on the Ukrainian settlement to his Swiss counterpart, Ignazio Cassis, the Russian Foreign Ministry said after their phone call.

"The sides exchanged views on the conflict around Ukraine. The minister explained in detail Russia’s position on the settlement of this situation with a focus on the approaches laid bare by Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 14," the ministry said. "The Russian side stressed the inadmissibility of NATO’s eastwards expansion, which was among the key reasons of the current situation, which made the special military operation unavoidable. The top Russian diplomat reaffirmed that Russia is ready to take all necessary measures to ensure its security."

"In light of Bern’s attempts to promote the settlement idea based of the 'Zelensky formula,' the Russian side emphasized that it is absolutely senseless to present to Moscow any ultimatums on the Ukrainian crisis settlement covertly agreed upon between the West and Kiev," the ministry stressed, adding that the sides agreed to continue contacts.