On October 4, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev outlined three conditions required to reach an enduring political settlement in Ukraine during an interview with the state broadcasting corporation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The statements were initially reported by the Russian media outlet Astra, detailing explicit demands regarding Ukraine’s geopolitical status, language policies, and territorial concessions.
Medvedev Details Three Conditions for Political Settlement
The conditions outlined during the interview begin with a demand concerning the fundamental status of the Ukrainian state. According to Medvedev, the requirements include a neutral, non-nuclear, and independent status for Ukraine. The second condition targets domestic policies within Ukraine, demanding an abandonment of what he termed the current regime’s nationalist course and a formal condemnation of the practice of banning the Russian language and all things Russian and Russian-related.
The third condition addresses the territorial dispute, requiring the transfer of territories established under the Russian Constitution into Russian jurisdiction. This encompasses the Donbass region as well as other new regions, with Medvedev asserting that this represents the restoration of Russian sovereignty. He explicitly warned that if these conditions are not met, the Russian Federation will achieve these objectives through military means, noting that the country remains in a state of military action.
Did You Know? The statements regarding territorial jurisdiction refer directly to regions specified within the Russian Constitution, including the Donbass, alongside the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Territorial Demands and Military Threats in Iranian Broadcast
The interview provided a platform for Moscow to reiterate its core positions to an international audience outside of Western capitals. Outlets covering the broadcast noted that while the terms mirror previously stated positions from the Kremlin leadership, including prior announcements by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding regional control and neutral status, their delivery via Iranian state radio marks a distinct diplomatic messaging effort.
The insistence on ceding entire administrative regions—such as parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts—shows the breadth of Moscow's baseline requirements for halting hostilities. Medvedev emphasized that diplomacy remains an option only if these strict terms are fully embraced by Kyiv, reinforcing the ultimatum with direct threats of continued military escalation.

Dmitry Medvedev outlines three core conditions for settlement
What specific conditions did Dmitry Medvedev outline for a political settlement?
Medvedev listed three core requirements during his interview: a neutral, non-nuclear, and independent status for Ukraine; an end to the country’s nationalist course alongside a reversal of restrictions on the Russian language; and the transfer of territories in the Donbass and other regions into Russian constitutional jurisdiction.
What did Medvedev say would happen if these conditions are rejected?
He explicitly stated that if Ukraine fails to meet these terms, the Russian Federation will achieve its objectives through military means, pointing out that the country is currently engaged in military actions.
Which media outlet first reported the details of this interview?
The statements made during the interview with the state broadcasting corporation of the Islamic Republic of Iran were initially highlighted by the Russian media outlet Astra on October 4.
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