In stark contrast to double-talking US/Western officials, their Russian counterparts like Vladimir Putin and Sergey Lavrov explain what’s important for everyone to know.
In his Wednesday address to the nation, Putin pulled no punches about longstanding US-dominated Western intentions “to weaken, divide and ultimately destroy our country” by whatever it takes to achieve their diabolical aims.
Indeed, their ruling regimes “crossed every line” in pursuing war on Russia by hot and other means.
Hours after Putin’s Wednesday address, Newsweek interviewed Lavrov about relations between Russia and the international community, as well as their likely direction ahead.
In New York at UN headquarters, he’s scheduled to address the General Assembly on either September 24th or 25th.
He’s also meeting with officials of various other nations.
According to his spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, they’ve been “many requests for bilateral and multilateral meetings with” Lavrov at UN headquarters.
He’ll likely hold “about 25 (or more) meetings with heads of foreign delegations…on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.”
In response to questions by Newsweek, Lavrov said the following:
The US-dominated West — since the Obama/Biden regime’s 2014 coup in Kiev — left Russia “no choice but to conduct” its defensive SMO in Ukraine and Donbass.
There’s no ambiguity about its publicly explained goals.
They’re “relevant,” crucial to Russia’s security, “and will be achieved, no matter how long it” takes.
At this time, Russian forces and Donbass freedom fighters liberated Lugansk and most of Donetsk.
“Peaceful life is returning to these territories,” Lavrov explained, adding:
“Despite (Kiev regime) shelling and sabotage (as ordered and directed by its US master), repair and restoration works are underway at civilian infrastructure facilities and in the residential sector.”
“New houses, schools, hospitals, cultural institutions are being built.”
As Vladimir Putin explained on Wednesday, Lavrov stressed that “the collective West, led by (hegemon USA), is openly seeking to defeat Russia ‘on the battlefield.’ ”
“The (Biden regime) and its allies are ready to sacrifice Ukraine for the sake of their geopolitical goals.”
So they’ve been “pump(ing) (arms and equipment into the Nazified territory) for prolonged conflict.”
Their actions virtually eliminated “prospects of its settlement.”
The empire of lies and forever wars rejects restoration of “peace and tranquillity in Ukraine.”
“That became clear already in March, when Moscow and Kiev came close to reaching mutual agreements.”
The prospect was unacceptable to dominant Biden regime hardliners and vassal state Britain.
“So they forbade Ukraine to conduct further dialogue with Russia.”
Conflict continued to the present time with no near-term prospect for resolution.
The devastating human toll to Ukrainian manpower is of no consequence to the collective West or Nazified Kiev.
Lavrov corrected Newsweek, explaining that South Ossetia was the first state to recognize DPR and LPR independence — followed by Russia, Abkhazia, Syria and North Korea, others sure to follow ahead.
Regarding other Ukrainian territories liberated from the scourge of Nazified control, Lavrov explained the following, citing indisputable international law, saying:
Russia believes “that their inhabitants have the right to independently determine their own destiny.”
“We see the desire of people to be together with Russia, and therefore we shall treat their choice with respect.”
“The corresponding intentions have been voiced by the leaders of the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.”
“All of them are entitled to use the right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Charter” and other international law.
Because of US war on Russia by hot and other means, bilateral relations — including dialogue — are “virtually frozen,” Lavrov explained.
It’s impossible to have normal relations with a regime dedicated to “the strategic defeat of Russia.”
On the issue of illegally waged all-out sanctions war on Russia by US/Western regimes, aiming to cripple its economy, they self-inflicted harm on themselves while failing to achieve their objective, said Lavrov.
By disrupting supply chains, they created shortages of energy, food and other commodities.
Their actions contributed greatly to soaring inflation throughout the US/West and elsewhere — what hiking interest rates cannot reverse.
So the vast majority of ordinary people throughout the US/West and elsewhere are greatly harmed by hot and sanctions war on Russia — while its economy is holding up well because it’s largely self-sufficient.
Without readily available Russian energy and other key commodities, European economies and their people have been greatly harmed.
They made their bed and “we cannot keep them from” sleeping in it, Lavrov explained.
Because of what’s gone on since the 2014 coup — especially since Russia’s liberating SMO began in late February — Lavrov minced no words as follows, stressing:
“I do not think that in the foreseeable future they will be able to restore their credibility as business counterparts.”
Russia will work with scores of allied countries, ones that prioritize “equal, mutually beneficial cooperation, (ones) not affected by anti-Russian hysteria.”
“They constitute the vast majority of the international community.”
“We see wide interest in expanded cooperation with us from countries of Eurasia, Africa, and Latin America, members and participants in the EEU, the CSTO, the CIS, the SCO, BRICS, and many other non-Western countries.”
“We continue to adapt to new foreign trade and financial realities, intensify(ing) import phase-out.”
“Together with our friends, (Russia is) decreas(ing) US dollar (transactions) in mutual trade…national currencies” replacing it.
“We intend to make use of all available opportunities and instruments to protect our interests.”
“I have no doubts that Russia will withstand any sanctions pressure.”
The policy failed dismally. Nor will it work ahead by greater attempted pressure than already.
On Sino/Russian relations, Lavrov stressed that the “strategic partnership with China remains an absolute foreign policy priority for Russia.”
“It is sustainable, longterm, and does not depend on the volatility of the international environment.”
“The relationship between Russia and China is characterized by deep mutual trust, mutual support in the protection of each other’s fundamental national interests, and willingness to expand mutually beneficial ties.”
“Together with our Chinese friends, we will keep working on improving the world situation, facilitate the creation of a just multi-polar system based on the UN Charter, and, first of all, on the fundamental principle of the sovereign equality of states.”
Hegemon USA, its Western vassals and scourge of Nazism in Ukraine they support bear full responsibility for today’s dismal state on the world stage, said Lavrov.
Dominant US dark forces cling to the notion of unipolarity in a multi-polar world.
Together with their Western counterparts, “they cannot accept the fact that the modern world is no longer West-centered,” Lavrov stressed, adding:
“And it will never be again.”
“Today, strong, independent players from developing countries have emerged and they are increasingly visible.”
“These states and their integration associations do not want to participate in the anti-Russian ‘crusade’ instigated” by the empire of lies and forever wars on invented enemies.
In conclusion, Lavrov explained the following:
Russia prioritizes the principle of “non-interference in the internal affairs of foreign states.”
“We are not interfering,” and never have interfered in, the political process of other nations.
“We are closely monitoring preparations for (US) November midterm elections.”
“This is not a whim, but a duty of diplomats, journalists, and scholars.”
“We do not exaggerate the importance of these elections in the context of improving Russian-American relations, given the persistent rejection of the very idea of equal dialogue with Moscow.”
“It is still too early to say anything about the 2024 US presidential campaign since it has not really begun yet.”
Lavrov knows, but stopped short of explaining, that there’s virtually no chance of improved relations between Russia and the US-dominated West for at least a generation or longer.
The best to hope for is avoiding possible WW III at a time when it grows more likely than the other way around.
The Stephen Lendman Blog 
Reblogged this on Calculus of Decay .
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