NATO countries are doing everything to prevent completion of the Russian special operation in Ukraine by political agreements, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in the interview with the Xinhua news agency.
"We witness the manifestation of classic double standards and hypocrisy of the Western establishment at present. Publicly expressing support to the Kyiv regime, NATO countries are doing everything to prevent completion of the operation by way of reaching political agreements," the Russian Minister said.
Russia advocates further negotiations with Ukraine, but this is being obstructed by Western incitement, Lavrov said.
"We advocate further talks, although they do not proceed easily. You are asking a right question as to what obstructs them. It is, for example, the belligerent rhetoric and incitement of Kyiv’s Western benefactors," Lavrov said.
According to the Foreign Minister, Western states incite Kyiv to "fight until the last Ukrainian," by shipping weapons and obstructing negotiations.
"I am convinced that agreements could only be achieved when Kyiv starts acting out the interests of the Ukrainian people, and not of the ‘remote advisors’," he added.
Lavrov noted that Russian and Ukrainian delegations continue the negotiations daily via video conference. He stated that a settlement in Ukraine would contribute greatly to de-escalation situation not only in Europe, but in the entire world.
"The settlement in Ukraine will make it possible to make a significant contribution to de-escalation of military and political tensions in Europe, and in the world in general. One possible option implies establishment of the institution of guarantor states, which would include, first and foremost, the UN Security Council permanent members, including Russia and China," Lavrov concluded.
Despite the current course of the Ukrainian leadership, Russia remembers the ages-long history of kinship with Ukraine, and these ties will definitely be restored, Lavrov said.
"Despite the anti-Russia course of the current leadership, we remember the age-long history of comprehensive cultural, spiritual, economic and even simple family ties between Russians and Ukrainians. We will definitely restore these ties," he said.
The Minister claimed that Russia is interested in a prosperous and friendly Ukraine.
"As for the Russian-Ukrainian relations, Russia is interested in a peaceful, free, neutral, prosperous and friendly Ukraine," Lavrov added.
Russia urges Ukrainian authorities to abolish provocations, including informational actions, Lavrov said.
"It is necessary that Kyiv stops its cynical provocations, including ones in the informational space. Using civilians as human shields, Ukrainian forces carry out barbaric shelling of cities, like in Donetsk and Kramatorsk. They torture captive Russian servicemen with animal cruelty and publish their atrocities in the Internet," he said.
Lavrov noted that Kyiv authorities accuse the Russian Army of war crimes with aid of their Western benefactors and global media under their control.
"They shift responsibility, as we say in Russia, from a sick head to a healthy one, [lay their blame on somebody else]," he added.
According to the Foreign Minister, Western states that justify actions of Ukrainian authorities, become complicit in the crimes, committed by the nationalists.
"The West should have long stopped unconditionally whitewashing and covering for Kyiv. Otherwise, Washington, Brussels and other Western capitals must be aware of their responsibility for complicity in bloody crimes of Ukrainian nationalists," the Minister concluded.
