Thế Giới

Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that the liberation of Donbass is Russia’s ‘unconditional priority’

Foreign Minister Lavrov declared that the liberation of Donbass was Russia's 'unconditional priority' - Photo 1.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Photo: Reuters

Foreign Minister Lavrov spoke in an interview with French TV channel TF1 amid Russia’s offensive to secure control of key towns in the Donbass, Ukraine’s traditional industrial hub including Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

He reiterated that Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine is aimed at demilitarizing the neighboring country after NATO’s wave of eastward expansion. Kiev and Western countries consider those claims baseless and “unacceptable”.

“The liberation of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, recognized by Russia as independent states, is an unconditional priority,” Lavrov said, according to a document released by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

As for the rest of the territories in Ukraine, he said: “I don’t believe they will happily return to an administration that is intrinsically anti-Russian. These people have to decide for themselves.”

He said the Russian campaign was “inevitable” after Western countries ignored Moscow’s warnings about contempt and military attacks on Russian-speaking people in Ukraine.

Ukraine denies carrying out any such attack.

In recent weeks, Russia has focused on the Donbass after retreating in the capital Kiev and other parts of Ukraine.

“Yes, people are being killed,” Lavrov said. “This operation took so long mainly because the Russian soldiers involved had to follow strict orders to avoid affecting civilians.”

Russia’s three-month-long special operation has killed thousands of people in Ukraine and displaced millions. According to the United Nations, more than 6.7 million refugees have left Ukraine since February 24.

You are reading the article Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that the liberation of Donbass is Russia’s ‘unconditional priority’
at Blogtuan.info – Source: danviet.vn – Read the original article here

Back to top button