Russia’s Lavrov Bashes NATO Over its ‘Destructive Role’ in Ukrainian Crisis

MOSCOW – NATO has played a destructive role during the Ukrainian crisis and continues to push Kiev toward confrontation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with El Pais newspaper.

“We cannot overlook NATO’s destructive role throughout the Ukrainian crisis. In particular, the alliance has taken the course on building up Ukraine’s military potential, which is used [by Kiev] against civilians,” Lavrov said in the interview published Wednesday.

 “NATO leadership supports plans of member countries to expand supplying Ukraine with special means and military equipment that could be used by Ukrainian authorities for internal repressions. Therefore, they are practically pushing Kiev to forcible resolution of the conflict,” the minister said.

The US-led military alliance has been ratcheting up its presence near Russia’s borders since the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis, citing the need to better defend its allies. NATO intensified its air patrols in the Baltic countries, deployed surveillance planes over Poland and Romania and sent its warships to the Black and Mediterranean seas.

In April, NATO suspended cooperation with Russia over Moscow’s alleged role in escalating the crisis in Ukraine, the claim Russia has repeatedly denied.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week the crisis in eastern Ukraine, which has been provoked by the West, has mainly been used to resuscitate NATO.

Russia warns West of ‘irresponsible’ decisions

Meanwhile, a senior Russian official has warned the US and its Western allies that their negligent policies are putting the world in danger of a new Cold War.

The chairman of the Russian parliament’s lower house or Duma, Sergei Naryshkin, said on Wednesday that the decision by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to provide Ukraine with weapons is a criminal act.

“The cynical and irresponsible policy of the United States and those countries that are on its leash is pushing the world to the verge of a new cold war,” said Naryshkin.

Earlier on Sunday, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Valery Heletey said NATO was providing his county with weapons in a bid to equip the country to fight pro-Russian activists and “stop” Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kiev and its Western allies accuse Moscow of sending troops into eastern Ukraine in support of pro-Russia activists battling Ukrainian forces. Russia, however, denies the accusation.

Russia’s parliament speaker, however, said the United States and its allies in NATO are behind the chaos in the country, which unfolded six months ago.

He added that NATO’s promises will constitute a direct intervention and complicity in the crimes being committed in Ukraine.

He warned that the European people are waking up to “mindless fulfillment” of US orders which devalue their national sovereignty and cause economic losses.

His remarks came in the wake of NATO’s plans to hold military exercises in Ukraine.

According to European Command (EUCOM) spokesman Gregory Hicks, about 1,300 troops from 15 countries, are participating in the maneuvers. The drills started early Monday near the country’s border with Poland.

Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers Approves Implementation Plan for EU Association Agreement

On the other hand in Kiev, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine unanimously approved the implementation plan for the EU association agreement Wednesday.

“We need to complete the implementation, and the sooner the better. Application and EU membership [will follow],” Prime Minister ArseniyYatsenyuk said.

The EU Association Agreement was signed into law by President Petro Poroshenko Tuesday minutes after it was ratified in a simultaneous procedure by the parliaments of Ukraine and the European Union.

RIA Novosti, PRESS T.V

R.S