Sanctions imposed against Russia for failure of European diplomacy - Lavrov
The main reason for the tension in relations between Russia and European countries is that the West continues to support the illegal Kiev leadership, which came to power as a result of a coup in 2014.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated this at the international forum “Primakov Readings,” a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“We cannot help but understand that the main reason for the current not very rosy relationship between our countries is the support by Berlin, and indeed the entire West, of the armed, bloody anti-state coup that took place in Ukraine in 2014 - 12 hours after Germany, France and Poland guaranteed a settlement agreement between then-President Yanukovych and the opposition. And which was torn up by opposition signatories the morning after the signing ceremony itself.
It’s not that Germany, France and Poland called the opposition to order - they, in response to our appeals, even encouraged this course of events. And people came to power who immediately outlined their ardently Russophobic position - they demanded to throw the Russians out of Crimea, and sent trains with armed bandits to Crimea. And when Germany simply remained silent and began to say: “Well, the reality on Earth has changed,” the minister said.
Lavrov emphasized that the West blamed Russia for its own “mistakes” and imposed sanctions on it.
“And in response to this policy of theirs, they accused us that we were violating some rules invented by our colleagues, they declared annexation an act that was based on the free will of Crimea. And they imposed sanctions on us for the failure that European diplomacy suffered, failing to force the opposition, which, through the mediation of Germany, France and Poland, it agreed with Yanukovych,” the minister added.
He also emphasized that Russia behaved extremely correctly and carefully, tried to establish a dialogue and resolve the problem that arose - this is how the Minsk agreements were signed, which Ukraine has not yet fulfilled.
“But just like with the agreement of February 2014, the Minsk agreements have not yet been implemented. And, to our great regret, Germany and France, as participants in the Normandy format, are trying in every possible way to defend the absolutely destructive position that Kyiv takes.
You know, Zelensky more than once говорил: “I don’t want to implement the Minsk agreements, but we need to leave them, because as long as they exist, there will be sanctions against Russia.” And this logic has never been refuted or even commented on by our German, French and other colleagues,” Lavrov noted.
The minister summarized that Russia still wants to establish normal relations and cooperation with Germany, which can still become negotiable.
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