Lavrov: It is necessary to stop the bloodshed in the Middle East resulting from Washington’s policies

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed the need to stop the bloodshed in the Middle East resulting from Washington’s policies, considering that the United States’ transfer of weapons and ammunition to “Israel” makes it a direct partner in the war, as is the case in the situation in Ukraine.

In a speech during a UN Security Council session yesterday on the Middle East, Lavrov said: “During these months of the large-scale military operation launched by “Israel” in cooperation with its American allies, there was a terrifying statistics of losses and destruction within the past 285 days, as about 40,000 people were killed and more than 89,000 were injured, most of them children and women, which is double the number of civilian victims on both sides during the ten years of the conflict in southeastern Ukraine”.

Lavrov said that the number of victims among humanitarian workers affiliated with the United Nations and non-governmental organizations in Gaza is approaching 300, which is the largest number of victims in modern history.

Lavrov added: “We stress our rejection of the collective punishment taking place in Gaza Strip, as the Strip is witnessing a collapse in its infrastructure, the spread of epidemics and famine.”

Regarding the right of the State of Palestine to full membership in the United Nations, Lavrov stressed his country’s support for the right of the Palestinians to self-determination and the settlement of the Palestinian issue in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.

Following the session, Lavrov confirmed in a press conference at the United Nations headquarters that his country is ready for negotiations on Ukraine and security issues in Europe, criticizing at the same time the West’s insistence on implementing the so-called “peace plan” developed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Lavrov explained that the double standards of UN representatives are evident in dealing with the situation in Gaza and Ukraine, saying that “there is Article 100 of the UN Charter on the integrity and impartiality of UN officials which explains that it is unacceptable for the collective West to privatize UN structures to achieve its own interests.”

Lavrov stressed that the West must stop pumping weapons into Ukraine and only then will the conflict end, announcing that Russia and the United States held unannounced “track two” contacts via the expert line and discussed the Ukrainian crisis.

Regarding the sanctions war against Russia, Lavrov said that “this war began during the era of former US President Donald Trump, but despite that, dialogue continued between Moscow and Washington at the highest level and there is no such dialogue now,” noting that Moscow and Washington hold talks from time to time but there is no significant progress.

Lavrov stressed that Russia is ready to work with any US president chosen by the Americans, and if Western countries reconsider their stances, Moscow is also ready for dialogue.