Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov: 'Russia has not lost Ukraine'

Russian-Ukrainian relations are indivisible. For centuries, the two countries have been bound by historical, economic, geographical, cultural and civilizational values, and above all, by family ties.

Russian Foreign Minister affirms "indivisibility" between Russia and Ukraine

Tass news agency quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview on the “Sunday Afternoon” program on the “Russia” TV channel, saying: “I do not agree that we have lost Ukraine. Perhaps the Americans need this conclusion to consolidate their leading position in the world...”.

According to the Russian Foreign Minister, no force can split the traditional relations between Russia and Ukraine.

“That is impossible. For centuries, our two countries have been bound by historical, economic, geographical, cultural and civilizational values, and above all, by family ties,” Lavrov said.

“I believe that this tragic period in the history of Ukraine will pass, that the Ukrainian people will want to restore the agreement on the unification of all regions of Ukraine on the basis of compromise and balance of interests... In such a Ukrainian state, the attitude towards Russia will be better,” the Russian Foreign Minister stressed, affirming: “Most importantly, it is national unity.”

According to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, “the Minsk negotiations continue to be resumed, not only on ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons, solving serious humanitarian problems in the Southeast, but also on economic recovery, restoration of destroyed infrastructure, resumption of social services interrupted after President Poroshenko signed a decree on economic and financial blockade in Donbass”.

“The declaration of the leaders of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics is beneficial for the start of a general dialogue,” Lavrov said, adding: “In the current situation, it is necessary to work out immediate solutions aimed at alleviating the difficulties of the people of the Donbass, and then in the near future, to start talking about the economic issue, about restoring power relations, trade relations, and the restoration of social payments.”

Ukraine to take at least 6 years to join NATO

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that the idea of ​​Ukraine joining NATO is dangerous not only for the Ukrainian people, but also for European security.

“I don’t really understand why, yes, they so quickly adopted a law abolishing non-aligned status, allowing Kiev to join NATO. However, in order to achieve this goal, with the current state system, law enforcement system and military organization of Ukraine, it will take Kiev at least six years. It cannot be earlier,” said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, accusing Western countries of keeping the current tension in order to follow the Ukrainian-Russian ladder.

“We need to be vigilant against such intentions. One cannot help but suspect that some Western countries want to keep the crisis in Ukraine going, thereby escalating the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine,” Lavrov stressed.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said that Russia is doing more than any other country to resolve the situation in Ukraine.

“We are speaking very frankly. When people say that we are the cause of the war, and that we are the aggressors. If that is the case, why should we accept the influx of Ukrainian refugees that are pouring into the Rostov region and other regions of the Russian Federation?”, Mr. Lavrov said.

“I am sure that Russia will be able to ensure that the dialogue initiated by the parties around the Ukrainian crisis will result in concrete agreements on the rules of full respect for human rights, language, culture, traditions and history in a united Ukraine,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

According to Tien Phong