NEW YORK — Russia‘s top diplomat may have declined to predict the start of World War III when asked by a Russian reporter at the United Nations about President Vladimir Putin‘s response should the West attack Ukrainian territory covered by criticized referenda. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov insisted Russia would defend itself if forced.
“We have a doctrine for nuclear security, which is an open document. Everything is set out clearly there,” Lavrov told reporters Saturday through translators. “I would invite you to take another look at what is explicitly set out instances where nuclear weapons use by us is acceptable.
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“I would not, here, try to make any gloomy forecasts,” he added later. “All of the laws, doctrines, concepts, and strategies of the Russian Federation apply to all of its territory.”
Lavrov eschewed Western “hysteria” concerning referenda in Ukraine’s eastern Russia-controlled Donbas region, as well as the southern region of Kherson, on whether they should become a part of Russia as “high-handedness” and “arrogance.” Countries, including the United States, have pledged not to recognize the results of the referenda, convened by Moscow-endorsed officials.
“The referenda are being conducted on the decisions of the local government and authorities,” Lavrov said, amplifying false claims about Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky. “The conditions of those referenda have been published. Following those referenda, as I’ve already said, Russia, of course, will respect the expression of the will of those people who, for many long years, have been suffering from the abuses of the neo-Nazi regime.”
Lavrov cited Putin’s Feb. 24 national address when pushed on Russia’s long-game in Ukraine, saying Moscow is open to negotiations but that it would not make the “first step.”
“They are selfish through and through,” he said. “They are egotistical. They think only about themselves and their interests. A balance of interests is not something that they will respect or even pursue.”
Lavrov answered questions for about an hour days after Putin started mobilizing roughly 300,000 army reservists with training and experience for Ukraine after Kyiv launched a successful counteroffensive campaign. He bristled at inquiries regarding the number of Russians who departed the country after Putin’s partial draft announcement.
“In Germany, have you not ratified the Convention of the Council of Europe on the Rights of Persons, which has freedom of movement?” he told a German journalist.
Lavrov was similarly short when pressed on whether Russia was coming under pressure from China related to the Ukraine conflict.
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“You may tell your readers, listeners, viewers that I avoided to answer your question,” he said.
