Sergey Lavrov promises full protection for any territory annexed by Russia. Ukraine’s immediate reaction

The Russian Foreign Minister, addressing the UN General Assembly and the world media, tried to justify the invasion of Ukraine that began in February, repeating Moscow’s false claims that the government elected in Kyiv was installed illegitimately, is full of neo -Nazis, and in the east of the country Russian speakers are oppressed, reports Reuters, quoted by Agerpres.

On Friday, Russia launched referendums in four regions of eastern Ukraine (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye), with the aim of annexing these territories taken by force.

“Following those referendums, Russia will, of course, respect the expression of the will of those people who for many years have suffered from the abuses of the neo-Nazi regime” Lavrov declared in a press conference, after the intervention in the General Assembly.

Asked if Russia would have reasons to use nuclear weapons to defend the annexed regions of Ukraine, Sergey Lavrov said that Russian territory, including that which “will be enshrined” in the Constitution in the future, “is under the full protection of the state.” “All laws, doctrines, concepts and strategies of the Russian Federation apply throughout its territory,” the Russian foreign minister said, referring specifically to Russia’s doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons.

Ukraine condemns Lavrov’s claims

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Saturday that Lavrov’s statements and the previous one by President Putin – that he is serious about using nuclear weapons – are “irresponsible and absolutely unacceptable”.

Putin’s and Lavrov’s irresponsible statements on the possible use of nuclear weapons are absolutely unacceptable. Ukraine won’t give in. We call on all nuclear powers to speak out now and make it clear to Russia that such rhetoric puts the world at risk and will not be tolerated.

— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) September 24, 2022

“Ukraine will not give in. We call on all nuclear powers to speak up now and make it clear to Russia that such rhetoric puts the world at risk and will not be toleratedKuleba wrote on Twitter.