New York | Lavrov criticizes plans for a brand new peace convention in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine a situation of peace. However, Lavrov as soon as once more declared that Moscow would keep in Ukrainian territories.

“There (in jap and southeastern Ukraine) not all areas have been liberated but. We can not depart the individuals who voted to return to Russia underneath the thumb of the regime that destroys every part Russian,” Lavrov mentioned. The declare that he needed to shield the Russian inhabitants in Ukraine served Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin greater than two years in the past as a case for launching his conflict of aggression towards the neighboring nation.

Whereas Moscow claimed the 2 areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, which had already been partially occupied by Russian forces, the Kremlin additionally annexed the areas of Kherson and Zaporizhia within the fall of 2022. There was a referendum within the ‘a part of the territories managed by Russia as justification for the claims. The vote, which was overseen by the Russian navy, was not acknowledged internationally.

In New York, Lavrov additionally spoke briefly about US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in Russia. Russia has irrefutable proof of the correspondent’s espionage actions, Lavrov mentioned. His change is at the moment being mentioned between the key companies in Washington and Moscow. Gershkovich and the Wall Avenue Journal, for which the 32-year-old labored as a correspondent in Russia, have denied the allegations of espionage. Putin had beforehand indicated that he needed to change Gershkovich for a Russian citizen imprisoned in Germany for political homicide.