Sergey Lavrov additionally accused the West of fuelling the warfare in Ukraine to weaken Russia, and mentioned that it relies on Kyiv and Washington how lengthy the battle, which began on February 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 advised the state Tass news 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 mobilisation, nor panicky search for ammo, nor secret contracts with Iran, nor Lavrov’s threats will help,” he mentioned. “Ukraine will demilitarise 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 advised the Associated Press in an interview that his authorities desires a summit to finish the warfare however that he would not anticipate Russia collaborating.
Kuleba mentioned Ukraine desires a “peace” summit inside two months with UN Secretary-General António Guterres appearing as mediator. But he additionally mentioned that Russia should face a warfare crimes tribunal earlier than earlier than his nation straight talks with Moscow.
Both statements illustrate how complicated and tough any makes an attempt to finish the warfare could possibly be. Ukraine has mentioned prior to now that it would not negotiate with Russia earlier than the total withdrawal of its troops, whereas Moscow insists its navy positive aspects and the 2014 annexation of the Crimea Peninsula can’t be ignored.
Meanwhile, fierce combating continued on Tuesday within the Russia-claimed Donetsk and Luhansk areas that lately have been the scene of essentially the most intense clashes.
Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar mentioned that Russian forces are attempting 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 serious win — was focused 11 occasions, mentioned regional administrator Yaroslav Yanushevich.
Since its preliminary advances in the beginning of the warfare 10 months in the past, Russia has made few main positive aspects, typically pummelling Ukraine’s infrastructure as an alternative and leaving thousands and thousands with out electrical energy, heating and scorching water amid winter situations.
Lavrov didn’t specify how the Russian military will obtain its objectives of demilitarising and de-nazifying Ukraine — which was Russia’s said objective 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 might 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.
