According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the “liberation” of Ukraine’s Donbas region is an “unconditional priority” for Moscow, while other Ukrainian territories should select their own fates.

As Russia went on with its offensive to retake major towns in Donbas, Ukraine’s traditional industrial heartland made comprised of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, Lavrov spoke to France’s TF1 television programme. find out more

He reaffirmed Moscow’s allegations that its “special military operation” in Ukraine is aimed at demilitarizing its neighbour in the aftermath of NATO’s eastward advance and ridding it of “Nazi”-inspired nationalism. Those assertions are seen by Kyiv and Western countries as flimsy pretexts for a land grab.

According to a letter provided by Russia’s Foreign Ministry, “the liberation of the Donetsk and Luhansk areas, recognized by the Russian Federation as independent republics, is an unqualified priority.”

He declared the following about the rest of Ukraine’s territories: “They will not be glad to return to the authority of a neo-Nazi regime that has proven to be Russophobic in essence, in my opinion. These individuals must make their own decisions.”

He claimed that Russia’s involvement was “inevitable” since Western countries ignored warnings about Ukraine’s disrespect for and military attacks on its Russian-speaking citizens.

Ukraine has denied ever launching such an attack. After a failed march on Kyiv and other Ukrainian territories, Russia has shifted its focus to Donbas in recent weeks.

“People are being killed,” Lavrov said. “However, the operation is taking so long because participating Russian military are under strict orders to prevent attacks and strikes on civilian infrastructure.”