US Wants To Dominate World, Says Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the United States wants to dominate the world, adding that attempts by the West to isolate Russia over the crisis in Ukraine would not produce results.

Lavrov made the remarks on Wednesday at a press conference in Moscow, a day after US President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech.

“The address delivered by President Obama yesterday proves that the [US] philosophy has only one central piece – we are No.1 and everyone else has to admit it,” said Lavrov.

The Russian minister also described Washington’s foreign policy as “aggressive” and “outdated.”

“This [attitude] is a bit old-fashioned, it fails to meet present-day realities and demonstrates that the United States actually wants to dominate the world rather than be the first amongst equals,” added Lavrov, noting, “This too shall pass.”

Ukraine Crisis

Lavrov said the West’s attempts to freeze out Russia over the Ukraine crisis would not be effective, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin had declared that “Russia will never resort to self-isolation.”

The Russian minister once again rejected Kiev’s and the West’s allegations a Russian military presence in the warn-torn region, calling on them to provide proof for such claims.

In addition, Lavrov said Moscow is determined to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine and that he would seek an immediate ceasefire between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russia forces at the talks due to be held in the German capital, Berlin, later on Wednesday with his counterparts from Ukraine, Germany and France.

The top Russian diplomat said pro-Russia forces have already agreed to withdraw heavy artillery from Ukraine’s restive eastern regions and added, “Now the Ukrainian authorities should do their bit.”

The two mainly Russian-speaking regions of Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern Ukraine have been the scene of deadly clashes between pro-Russia protesters and the Ukrainian army since Kiev’s military operation started in mid-April in a bid to crush the protests.

According to the latest figures released by the United Nations, around 5,000 people have been killed in the fighting.

Iran nuclear talks have made significant progress – Lavrov

On the other hand in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that significant progress have been made in the context of nuclear talks between Iran and the six world powers – widely known as the P5+1.

Speaking during a press conference to answer the questions by dozens of Russian and foreign reporters on Moscow’s foreign diplomacy review in 2014, Lavrov was asked to comment about nuclear talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.

All the key players in Iran’s nuclear case are acting realistically, Lavrov said, adding that the negotiators from the P5+1 and Iran are resolved to achieve a comprehensive deal to put an end to years of dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program.

He predicted that given the good progress of negotiations, Iran and the six-nation group will agree on a deal by June 30 – the self-imposed deadline for an agreement.

PRESS T.V, IRNA

R.S