Russia has called out Western nations and NATO for escalating tensions in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on October 21, Lavrov claimed that Western nations are trying to “eradicate all things Russian” in Ukraine, including the country’s language, history, and culture — actions it says are being carried out by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government.
“The Western agenda seeks to eradicate all things Russian in Ukraine — including our language, history, and culture. This is exactly what the Zelensky regime is pursuing today,” he said.
“It is one of the main reasons, along with efforts to draw Ukraine into NATO, that led President Putin to decide on launching the special military operation.”
This comes after NATO approved the proposal to supply Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, a move expected to enhance Kyiv’s long-range strike capabilities.
Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of more than 1,500 kilometers, would allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory.
Lavrov’s Take on Ceasefire Talks
Lavrov has dismissed the idea of a ceasefire in Ukraine, saying that any truce at this point would merely “freeze the conflict.” He argued that most of Ukraine would remain under what he described as a “Nazi regime.”
Lavrov further accused the West of blocking efforts toward a lasting peace, claiming that Western nations continue to ignore what he called “the root causes” of the crisis — including NATO’s expansion and the alleged suppression of Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine.
Also Read:Â NATO Approves Tomahawk Missile Supply to Ukraine, Dismisses Russian Threat
Ukraine on Joining NATO
The Russian Foreign Minister stated that Ukraine should stay neutral, not join any military bloc, and remain free of nuclear weapons.
He added that Ukraine should not be pushed to join NATO.
Lavrov also urged an end to what he called the mistreatment of Russians and Russian-speaking people in Ukraine, saying it is one of the main reasons behind the conflict.
He thanked Ethiopia for its “traditionally balanced” stance on the conflict, describing it as a fair understanding of the situation surrounding Ukraine.
“We are grateful to our Ethiopian friends for their traditionally balanced assessment of the events unfolding around Ukraine — events that have arisen as a result of the West’s long-standing policy to turn this country into a stronghold against Russia, creating military threats right at our borders,” Lavrov said.
Also Read:Â European Leaders Pledge Stronger Support for Ukraine, Tougher Sanctions on Russia Ahead of Ceasefire Talks
Russia Denies Reports of Postponed Lavrov–Rubio Meeting
Additionally, Russia has dismissed reports claiming that a planned meeting between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been postponed.
Responding to media reports that the meeting was planned for this week but later postponed, Ryabkov clarified that nothing had been scheduled yet, hence there was nothing to postpone.
“And we will continue in the future, I am sure, to face a situation where different information sources, especially Western ones, will engage in unfounded fabrications for the purpose of creating news items, causing speculation and raising questions, all of which are widely disseminated and analyzed, often from an angle favorable only to Westerners,” he said.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.Â
