Russia favors the preservation of Ukraine's non-aligned status and is sure that the establishment of peace in Ukraine is a realistic objective, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"In order to prevent the further disintegration of Ukraine, it is essential that the country retain its neutral status," Lavrov said in an article headlined 'Russia's Priorities in Europe and the World' published in the January issue of the Serbian magazine Horizons.

"Despite the complexity of the situation, it is our firm belief that peace and concord can still be reached in Ukraine," he said.

"Attempts to put pressure on Russia through unilateral sanctions - which are illegitimate and have been condemned by the UN General Assembly - will not make us forego what we think is right and just," he said.