Islamabad, February 25, 2025: Russian Ambassador to Pakistan, Albert P. Khorev, has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pakistan will take place once a solid foundation of mutual cooperation is established between the two countries. He clarified that Putin’s potential visit is not linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking at a press conference at the Russian Embassy, Khorev praised Pakistan’s political and military leadership for maintaining a policy of non-interference in the Ukraine war. “We appreciate Pakistan’s balanced and independent foreign policy. Once substantial groundwork is laid, President Putin will visit Pakistan to further strengthen bilateral relations,” he stated.
On the Ukraine conflict, Khorev accused Western nations of disregarding Russia’s security concerns, particularly NATO’s eastward expansion. He reiterated Russia’s stance that the 2014 uprising in Ukraine led to an ultra-nationalist government in Kyiv, which he claimed systematically targeted ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking communities.
Defending Russia’s military actions, the ambassador described them as a necessary response following failed negotiations with Western powers. He asserted that Russian forces currently control 75% of Donetsk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions, as well as 99% of the Luhansk People’s Republic. He further claimed that Russian troops had reclaimed 63% of the Kursk region, which was allegedly invaded by Ukraine last August.
Khorev insisted that “the initiative on the battlefield belongs entirely to the Russian military,” asserting that Russian forces continue to make territorial advances. He accused Ukraine’s military of committing atrocities in Russian-occupied territories while framing Russia’s actions as a means of securing peace and stability in the region.
Regarding peace negotiations, Khorev highlighted President Putin’s June 2024 proposal for a final settlement, which includes Ukraine’s withdrawal from Russian-annexed regions, recognition of new territorial realities, a commitment to non-NATO membership, lifting of all Western sanctions, and guarantees of full rights for Russian-speaking Ukrainians.
Criticizing Western policies, the ambassador pointed to what he called “double standards,” arguing, “The West accepted Kosovo’s independence from Serbia but refuses to recognize the referendums in Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.”
While reaffirming Russia’s strategic interest in strengthening ties with Pakistan, Khorev emphasized that President Putin’s visit will be based on substantive diplomatic progress rather than geopolitical pressures arising from the Ukraine conflict.
