Lavrov: West wants to split world and 'dismember' Russia

Created: 09/24/2022, 21:30

Sergey Lavrov at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

© Mary Altaffer/AP/dpa

Russia's foreign minister used his appearance in New York for an angry sweeping attack.

Sergei Lavrov rejects criticism of the war against Ukraine and the sham referendums.

New York - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the West of wanting to divide the world and destroy his country.

In the ongoing general debate at the UN General Assembly in New York, Lavrov said with regard to the USA, the EU and their allies: “They are no longer even embarrassed to openly declare that there is not only the intention to give our country a military one inflicting defeat, but destroying, dismembering Russia.”

He went on to say: "Under the slogan of a rules-based order, the West is introducing dividing lines everywhere that result in a confrontation between blocs: you are either with us or against us." A third option is not possible, there are no compromises.

Western countries have imposed tough sanctions on Russia and are distancing themselves from its government after Moscow's troops invaded neighboring Ukraine at the end of February.

With regard to Western military aid to Ukraine, Lavrov accused the United States in particular of using Ukraine merely as "material in the fight against Russia".

Lavrov justifies probable annexations

Criticism of the sham referendums now taking place in several occupied eastern Ukrainian regions.

The West's "outburst of anger" was unfounded, he said.

The residents of the regions would only take "their land where their ancestors have lived for hundreds of years."

Since Friday, mock referendums have been held in the four Russian-occupied areas of Cherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhia about joining Russia.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently described a possible annexation of the areas as a violation of international law.

Once again he also criticized Western arms deliveries to the attacked Ukraine.

Against this background, the USA, NATO and the EU could not claim to be uninvolved in the "conflict".

At a press conference afterwards, he made it clear: "The entire area of ​​the Russian Federation, which is defined in the Russian constitution and can also be defined, is in any case under the full protection of the state." dpa