Ukraine plotting an armed provocation on border with Russia before year end: Russian FM Lavrov
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged that Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko is plotting an “armed provocation” on the border with Russia and Crimea during the last ten days of December.
As reported by state run TASS news agency, Lavrov told the Komsomolskaya Pravda radio station, “ I am sure there will more provocations… Poroshenko is planning an armed provocation on the border with Russia, on the border with Crimea during the last ten days of December”.
Lavrov warned that any provocation by Ukraine will not go unanswered. He said, “The answer is: they will regret it. This is our country, this is our border. We will not allow him [Ukrainian President] to try to somehow protect his interests, the way he sees it, and violate those rights that Crimeans defended in full accordance with international law”.
#Russia deploys ten fighter jets to #Crimea amid rising tensions with Ukraine https://t.co/oosNX6VF3p pic.twitter.com/hSG3cAGJVg
— Press TV (@PressTV) December 18, 2018
Russian Foreign Minister said that his country “will not wage war against Ukraine, I promise you”. He said that Russia is not fighting Ukrainian regime but its citizens are fighting against the Ukrainian regime”.
Lavrov said, “We are not fighting the Ukrainian regime. It is Ukrainian citizens living in Donbass who are fighting against the Ukrainian regime, which has full Nazi and neo-Nazi characteristics”.
He accused west of supporting and advising to Ukraine for provocation, he said, “They advise him to keep low intense combat actions to enable them to go ahead with propaganda that Russians are carrying out an offensive against Ukraine and that’s why Russia needs to be hit by sanctions, but military actions should never switch into a phase that will be followed by full-scale responses”.
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have risen after Russia ceased three Ukrainian navy ships citing that Ukrainian ships threatened its security and sovereignty on November 25 in waters near Crimea. Crimea rejoined Russia in March 2014 that caused deep political changes in Kiev.