Russia vows to prevent Ukraine's return to 1991 borders

Russia's Foreign Ministry has declared that it will never permit Ukraine to be restored to its 1991 borders, sharply rebuking Western-backed calls for a full territorial return.

In a statement issued by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's office, Moscow dismissed demands from Kyiv and its allies as "futile" and "unfounded", accusing them of harbouring deeper intentions to dismantle Russia.

“It is clear that behind the futile, unfounded claims of the Kyiv regime and its Western supporters that Ukraine should be restored to its 1991 borders is a cannibalistic instinct to destroy Russia. Of course, Russia will never allow such a scenario to happen,” the statement read.