The West and its allies have provoked Russia’s actions in Ukraine, and never vice versa, stated Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov, utilizing a well-recognized justification for Moscow’s invasion.
“The extra they [the West and allies] discuss unprovoked aggression, the extra all people is satisfied it was provoked by them,” Lavrov instructed reporters on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali on Tuesday.
“And it isn’t aggression, it’s [an] operation to defend the authentic pursuits of Russian safety due to threats on Russia’s borders and to defend the Russian inhabitants in Donbas,” he added, utilizing one of many Kremlin’s frequent propaganda traces.
Lavrov additionally accused NATO and the European Union of interfering within the battle in Ukraine.
“I consider NATO and the European Union have lengthy been contributors in a hybrid battle in Ukraine, hybrid battle with their arms provides and coaching servicemen, and serving to with a considerable amount of intelligence, serving to with concentrating on,” he stated.
Regardless of talking out towards the West, Lavrov additionally instructed reporters that he had spoken to France’s President Emmanuel Macron, claiming that the French chief instructed Lavrov he needed to maintain speaking to the Russian president.
“I spoke to President Macron and he confirmed his intention to proceed contacts with President (Vladimir) Putin, to search for agreements that can permit a settlement to the scenario,” stated Lavrov.
“I reminded him, as I stated, that every one the issues are on the Ukrainian facet, due to their categorical refusal of any negotiations,” he added. “They’re placing ahead situations which can be clearly unrealistic and inconsistent with the scenario.”
In October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree formally ruling out the opportunity of negotiations with Putin. It was dated the day that Putin introduced he would annex Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and the Donetsk and Luhansk Folks’s Republics — in violation of worldwide legislation.
Final week, nonetheless, Zelensky instructed CNN’s Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour he had not utterly dominated out peace negotiations along with his counterpart in Moscow.
“I haven’t closed the door. I stated we’d be prepared to speak to Russia — however with a unique Russia. One that’s really prepared for peace. One which is able to acknowledge that they’re occupiers … They should return every part. Land, rights, freedom, cash. And most significantly, justice.
“And to date, I haven’t heard statements like that from the Russian Federation — both from Putin or from anybody else.”
