Lavrov: Russia will achieve its goals in Ukraine
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expresses certainty that his country will eventually achieve its goals in neighboring Ukraine, where it has been waging a war since February.
"I am convinced that thanks to our perseverance, patience, and determination, we will defend the noble goals that are vital for our people and our country," the top diplomat said in an interview broadcast on national television on Wednesday.
Moscow says it started the war in order to defend the pro-Russian population in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk against persecution by Kiev, and also to "de-Nazify" its neighbor.
Russia's former President Dmitry Medvedov warned in an article recently that Moscow would pursue the war until the "disgusting, almost fascist regime" in Kiev is removed and the country is totally demilitarized.
So far during the military conflict, Moscow has seized around a fifth of Ukraine's expanse in its south and east, including Luhansk and Donetsk.
Lavrov reiterated Moscow's stance that for talks to resume on cessation of the conflict, Kiev had to recognize Russia's rule over the captured territories.
"Our absolute priority is four new Russian regions," he said.
"They should become free from the threat of Nazification that they have faced for many years," the official said, adding, "We will protect our compatriots, citizens, and lands that have been Russian for centuries."
The Russian foreign minister concluded his remarks by asserting, "We would like to end this war as soon as possible, which the West was preparing and, as a result, unleashed against us through Ukraine."
Russia holds that the West's anti-Russian agendas, including its eagerness for inclusion of Ukraine in NATO -- and, therefore, the Western military alliance's expansion right up to Russia's borders -- forced Moscow to launch the war on the ex-Soviet Republic.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month that Moscow was ready to negotiate with all parties involved in the war, but Kiev and its Western allies refused to engage in talks.
"We are ready to negotiate with everyone involved about acceptable solutions, but that is up to them - we are not the ones refusing to negotiate, they are," Putin said.
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