KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday warned that Ukraine must meet Moscow’s demand for “demilitarization” and “denazification,” in addition to the removing of the army menace to Russia, in any other case “the Russian army (will) solve the issue.”
Sergey Lavrov additionally accused the West of fueling the struggle in Ukraine to weaken Russia, and mentioned that it is determined by Kyiv and Washington how lengthy the battle, which began on Feb. 24 when Russia invaded Ukraine, will final.
“As for the duration of the conflict, the ball is on the side of the (Kyiv) regime and Washington that stands behind its back,” Lavrov informed the state Tass information company. “They may stop senseless resistance at any moment.”
In an obvious response, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted that “Russia needs to face the reality.”
“Neither total mobilization, nor panicky search for ammo, nor secret contracts with Iran, nor Lavrov’s threats will help,” he mentioned. “Ukraine will demilitarize the RF (Russian Federation) to the end, oust the invaders from all occupied territories. Wait for the finale silently…”
A day earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba informed the Associated Press in an interview that his authorities needs a summit to finish the struggle however that he doesn’t anticipate Russia collaborating.
Kuleba mentioned Ukraine needs a “peace” summit inside two months with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres performing as mediator. But he additionally mentioned that Russia must face a struggle crimes tribunal earlier than earlier than his nation immediately talks with Moscow.
Both statements illustrate how complicated and tough any makes an attempt to finish the struggle could possibly be. Ukraine has mentioned up to now that it wouldn’t negotiate with Russia earlier than the complete withdrawal of its troops, whereas Moscow insists its army good points and the 2014 annexation of the Crimea Peninsula can’t be ignored.
Meanwhile, fierce preventing continued on Tuesday within the Russia-claimed Donetsk and Luhansk areas that just lately have been the scene of essentially the most intense clashes.
Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar mentioned that Russian forces try to encircle town of Bakhmut within the Donetsk area, however with out success. Heavy battles are additionally underway across the metropolis of Kreminna within the Luhansk area, Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai mentioned.
In the partially occupied southern Kherson area, Russian forces shelled Ukrainian-held areas 40 occasions on Monday, wounding one individual, Ukrainian authorities mentioned. The metropolis of Kherson itself — which Ukraine retook final month in a significant win — was focused 11 occasions, mentioned regional administrator Yaroslav Yanushevich.
Since its preliminary advances in the beginning of the struggle 10 months in the past, Russia has made few main good points, usually pummeling Ukraine’s infrastructure as a substitute and leaving hundreds of thousands with out electrical energy, heating and sizzling water amid winter situations.
Lavrov didn’t specify how the Russian military will obtain its targets of demilitarizing and de-nazifying Ukraine — which was Russia’s said purpose when the invasion began in February. The reference to “denazification” comes from Russia’s allegations that the Ukrainian authorities is closely influenced by radical nationalist and neo-Nazi teams. The declare is derided by Ukraine and the West.
Lavrov warned additional Western help for Ukraine may result in direct confrontation.
“We keep warning our adversaries in the West about the dangers of their course to escalate the Ukrainian crisis,” he mentioned, including that “the risk that the situation could spin out of control remains high.”
“The strategic goal of the U.S. and its NATO allies is to win a victory over Russia on the battlefield to significantly weaken or even destroy our country,” he mentioned.
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