By helping Ukraine
Lavrov accuses the West of “direct combat” against Russia
September 23, 2023, 9:13 p.m
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Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov is once again lashing out violently against the West. Ukraine’s allies would fight directly with Russia through financial aid and arms deliveries. Moscow itself, however, has no interest in a major war – but rejects all peace plans.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Western states of “fighting directly” against Russia because of their support for Ukraine. “You can call it whatever you want, but they are fighting with us, they are fighting with us directly,” Lavrov said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. “We call it hybrid war, but that doesn’t change the reality,” he added, referring to financial aid, weapons and “mercenaries” from Western countries. Since the beginning of the war, the Kremlin has repeatedly claimed that the West is a threat to Russia and that it would wage war against Moscow by supporting the attacked Ukraine.
In addition, in the midst of his country’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Lavrov emphasized that Russia had no interest in a major war. “It is entirely up to us how history will develop. It is in our common interest to prevent a downward spiral into large-scale war and the ultimate collapse of the mechanisms of international cooperation,” Lavrov said at the general debate. He did not mention the Ukraine war or concerns about its expansion or even a nuclear confrontation in this context.
However, he referred to the peace plan presented by Ukraine. Lavrov called the proposal unrealistic and said it was “not possible to implement it.” If Ukraine and its Western partners insist on Kiev’s ten-point peace plan, the Russian minister said, the conflict will be decided on the battlefield.
“The West is dividing humanity into hostile blocs”
The same applies to the UN’s latest proposals to revive the grain agreement. “We don’t reject them, they are simply not realistic,” he emphasized. The Russian minister once again criticized the fact that, despite the now suspended deal, Russia had not been able to export its own grain and fertilizer as originally agreed.
In addition, Lavrov once again insisted on the West as a global troublemaker. The West is a self-interested advocate of a dwindling international order. “The United States and the Western collective subordinate to it continue to fuel conflicts that artificially divide humanity into hostile blocs and hinder the achievement of larger goals,” Lavrov said. “They are trying to force the world to play by their own self-centered rules.”
The rest of the planet is fed up with this, he continued. This is evident in the growth of groups such as the Brics, the coalition of developing countries that currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and will next year include Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates should join.
Lavrov also sharply criticized Western countries against the background of Azerbaijan’s major offensive on the Caucasus region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Accordingly, the West wanted to impose itself as a mediator between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which in its opinion was not necessary. “Yerevan and Baku have clarified the situation. It is time to create mutual trust,” Lavrov said, emphasizing that the countries are supported by Russian troops.