Russia’s Lavrov closes door on EU and turns to ‘like-minded’ allies

Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday mentioned there will probably be no extra joint tasks with the European Union and mentioned Moscow will as a substitute flip to “like-minded” allies for future diplomatic partnerships.

“Thank God, the world is not only the European Union for us and we’ve got plenty of mates and like-minded nations elsewhere,” he advised Russia state-owned media outlet TASS.

The minister’s feedback come as Russian President Vladimir Putin has more and more seemed to bolster ties with China and Iran in latest months, turning to the latter for arms as its seems to be to shore up financial ties with Beijing. 

Lavrov accused the EU of waging a “hybrid battle” in opposition to Moscow since Russia’s lethal invasion of Ukraine in February. 

RUSSIA REJECTS UKRAINE ‘PEACE SUMMIT’ PROPOSAL: ‘DIPLOMACY 404’

In this picture launched by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pauses throughout his and Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos Franca’s joint information convention following their talks in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. 
(Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service through AP)

“Naturally, there will probably be no extra ‘enterprise as traditional’ with such counter-parties. We don’t intend both to knock on closed doorways or provoke any joint tasks,” he added. 

The Russian international minister accused the EU of following within the footsteps of the U.S. and NATO and mentioned, “They have been following the anti-Russian lead of the hegemon throughout the ocean virtually in full obedience.”

Lavrov has repeatedly accused the U.S. and its Western allies of waging battle in opposition to Russia by offering Ukraine with defensive and humanitarian help – together with monetary help to assist Kyiv restore its power infrastructure which Russia started focusing on forward of winter. 

Putin made headlines on Christmas day when he instructed that Moscow was open to negotiating with Ukraine, telling Russian media “We are prepared to barter with everybody concerned about acceptable options, however that’s as much as them – we aren’t those refusing to barter, they’re.”

PUTIN CLAIMS RUSSIA IS READY TO NEGOTIATE; UKRAINE ACCUSES KREMLIN OF TRYING TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY

But Kyiv rejected these feedback noting that Russia was solely open to discussing “ultimatums” that would come with permitting it to maintain the practically 20 p.c of Ukrainian territory that Russia presently occupies, together with Crimea. 

These accusations have been supported by Lavrov Tuesday when he mentioned Kyiv should settle for Moscow’s calls for or face a continued battle, reported Reuters. 

“Our proposals for the demilitarization and denazification of the territories managed by the regime, the elimination of threats to Russia’s safety emanating from there, together with our new lands, are well-known to the enemy,” he mentioned citing Moscow’s prime propagandist claims.

FILE – A Ukrainian soldier fires a mortar at Russian positions in Bakhmut, Donetsk area, Ukraine, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022.  A prime adviser to Ukraine’s president has cited army chiefs as saying 10,000 to 13,000 Ukrainian troopers have been killed within the nation’s nine-month wrestle in opposition to Russia’s invasion.
(AP Photo/Libkos, File)

“The level is easy: Fulfill them on your personal good. Otherwise, the problem will probably be determined by the Russian military,” Lavrov added. 

Despite the international minister’s menace Russia has made little developments in Ukraine and has misplaced territory over the previous few months.

The UK protection ministry has assessed that essentially the most intense preventing stays across the Donetsk city of Bakhmut the place Russia has made little headway. 

The protection officers famous that its dwindling provide of missiles has prompted its troops to more and more lay mines alongside the entrance strains in a defensive posture.

A Ukrainian BM-21 Grad a number of rocket launcher fires a rocket, as Russia’s assault on Ukraine continues, throughout intense shelling on Christmas Day on the frontline in Bakhmut, Ukraine, December 25, 2022.
(Reuters Photo)

Russian President Vladimir Putin advised his forces final week that it was their obligation to carry the territory they’ve occupied, although Crimea stays the one area absolutely occupied.

While Russia is assessed to have management over Luhansk, Ukrainian forces have begun to push the entrance strains eastward into the area the place areas at the moment are contested. 

Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk are usually not absolutely occupied.