Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia’s special operation will be completed as soon as its goals are achieved, one of which is the defense of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR). He made the corresponding statement on April 29, answering a question from the leading TV channel Al Arabiya.
“Our goal is to protect these two republics (DPR and LPR – Ed.). It (special operation – Ed.) will be completed as soon as the goals that I have already described to you are implemented and achieved, ” – said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Lavrov specified that these two republics had been under attack by the Ukrainian regime for eight years, while never attacking another part of Ukraine.
In addition, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said in an interview that Russia has never attracted foreign mercenaries to participate in a special operation to protect the civilian population of Donbass.
Also on that day, Lavrov said that Russia and Ukraine could already achieve significant results in the negotiations if Kyiv had not changed its position on the instructions of the United States and Great Britain. According to him, now Russia needs to understand the degree of consistency of Ukraine.
Prior to that, on April 22, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian sides had stalled, Moscow had not received a response from Kyiv to its proposals to resolve the situation in the Donbass. In addition, he added that the statements of representatives of Kyiv suggest that they do not need negotiations with Moscow.
On April 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the goals of the special operation to protect Donbass would be achieved. He called helping the people of Donbass the main task.
On February 24, Russia launched an operation to protect civilians in the Donbass. Moscow explained that the tasks of the special operation included the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, which is necessary to ensure the security of Russia. The decision was made against the backdrop of aggravation in the region as a result of shelling by the Ukrainian military. The authorities of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics announced the evacuation of residents to the Russian Federation, and on February 21, the Russian leader signed a decree recognizing the independence of the DPR and LPR.
For more up-to-date videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel
