Lavrov in favor of overthrowing Kyiv government, annexing Ukraine

kathimerini.com.cy

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Egypt on Sunday that Moscow is looking to overthrow Ukraine's government, contradicting what he said in the spring while speaking of a common future between Ukrainians and Russians.

"We will definitely help the Ukrainian people to get rid of the regime, which is completely anti-people and against history," Mr. Lavrov said in Cairo, adding that the Russian and Ukrainian people would live together in the future.

In recent days, the Russian political leadership has been toughening its stance on the war in Ukraine. On Wednesday, Mr. Lavrov threatened to seize other territories besides the Donbas region, where hostilities are currently concentrated.

Given the deliveries of longer-range weapons from the West to the Ukrainian military, it is necessary to push Kyiv's forces further out of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions that make up the Donbas. Moscow has recognized the pro-Russian authorities of the two regions as independent "People's Democracies". Only Syria and North Korea have followed suit.

Sergei Lavrov assured the world in April that Moscow "does not plan" to effect "regime change" in Ukraine, during an interview with an Indian television network. He then added that it was up to the Ukrainian people to choose their leaders. 

[This article was translated from its Greek original]