Iran Press/ Europe: Russia has launched “a special military operation” in Ukraine on Thursday. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin says he had no other choice than to launch the military operation to stop the Ukrainian military’s interference in two eastern republics that have broken away from Ukraine. Russia perceives NATO’s eastward expansion as a threat.
Sergei Lavrov’s remarks came as reports of gunfire in central Kyiv emerged Friday morning with Russian military forces entering the capital city, inching closer towards the government’s seat of power.
This was confirmed by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, which tweeted that Russian troops have entered Obolon district, a suburb in the northwest part of Kyiv.
Russia wants the Ukrainian people to be independent and have the possibility to freely define their destiny, Lavrov said on Friday.
He said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was lying when he said he was ready to discuss the neutral status of Ukraine.
Lavrov also said Russia will ensure the demilitarisation of Ukraine but sees no possibility of recognizing the current Ukrainian government as democratic.
He stated: “No one is planning to occupy Ukraine.”
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