Lavrov: Macron’s statement about sending troops to Ukraine is a serious issue

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement about the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine is a serious issue.

Macron recently told reporters at a meeting about Ukraine in Paris: “Today there is no consensus to send troops, in an official way. But dynamically, we cannot remove an option. “We will do whatever it takes to prevent Russia from winning this war.” Also on Thursday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that he truly believes that if Ukraine loses the current conflict, it will be NATO that will have to fight Russia next.

Lavrov said about this: After all the discussions that were made because of Macron’s statements, as far as I understand, he said that he will not take back his words. You mentioned that Washington has separated itself from such a position; But this is not completely true.

This senior Russian diplomat continued: In fact, the US president said that we are not going to fight (with Russia), and Mr. Austin said that if Ukraine loses to Russia, NATO should fight Russia. This is a serious issue.

The presence of Western armies in Ukraine

Lavrov also pointed to the presence of Western military personnel in Ukraine and said that not only volunteer mercenaries, but also US, British and French military officers are present in Ukraine.

He said: Before the coup (Maidan coup in Ukraine), hundreds of American citizens held positions in the ministries, as now they are said to have their mercenaries there. In fact, military officers are present there; English and French officers. We are well aware of this.

Germany and the destruction of the Crimean bridge

The Russian Foreign Minister went on to say: The conversation between high-ranking German military officials, in which the topic of the Crimean bridge attack was discussed, is “surprising”.

Pish Margarita, the editor of the Rasha Today news agency, published the text of the conversation between high-ranking representatives of the German army, in which they discussed the attack on the Crimean bridge with “Taurus” missiles.

The Russian Foreign Minister responded to this report by asking how Western leaders justify their actions to their own people and said: On the one hand, this issue is surprising and on the other hand, it is not surprising.

The American election has no effect on Moscow-Washington relations

The senior Russian diplomat further said in his comments about the 2024 US presidential election: Moscow does not expect a change in the relations between Russia and the US after this presidential election.

Lavrov said at a diplomatic meeting in Antalya that Russia does not expect the 2024 presidential election in the United States to bring about any significant change in relations between Washington and Moscow.

Source: ISNA