Russia's Lavrov accuses West of ignoring Ukrainian regime's war crimes in Donbass region

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has slammed West for its unrelenting support for Ukraine's leership and for turning a blind eye to country's alleged war crimes against civilians in eastern region. He emphasised that Western countries stood by Kyiv while it attempted to capture Donbass people's republics by force, professed a commitment to join North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and threatened to develop nuclear weapons. " West has turned a blind eye to war crimes against civilians, including killings of women, children, and elderly, as well as destruction of civilian infrastructure," Lavrov ded. 

Russian Foreign Minister also accused West of invertently fostering rapid emergence of neo-Nazism and Russophobia in Ukraine, which, according to him, led to country's current 'terrible' position. Lavrov went on to criticise West for "ignoring" obvious fact that a "genocide" was taking place in Ukraine, where Kyiv's soldiers have been fighting and "killing" residents of Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. He also announced that Russia will organize a special photo display at United Nations for participants in UN Human Rights Council's upcoming session. According to Lavrov, this gallery will be dedicated to situation in Donbass region and suffering of its people. 

'Zelensky lied about Kyiv's intention to discuss its "neutral status': Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister furr stated that Moscow couldn't ignore DPR and LPR's request for protection from Ukraine. Lavrov explained that Russian special operation in Donbass is being carried out so that Ukrainians can choose ir own future once y are "free of existing regime's persecution." He stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has lied about Kyiv's intention to discuss its "neutral status." " Ukrainian President lied when he claimed that Russia refused to engage in dialogue. Zelensky himself missed opportunity to begin talks on security guarantees," Lavrov remarked. 

Russian military reaches norrn suburb of Kyiv: Reports

According to reports, Ukraine is willing to talk to Russia about negotiating Kyiv's neutrality, but it needs security guarantees, Mykhailo Podoliak, an viser to President Zelensky, has stated. Russian military has reportedly reached norrn suburb of Kyiv and Moscow has asked Ukrainian forces to surrender. It is worth mentioning here that Russia launched attacks on major cities and airports across Ukraine on Thursday, February 24, shelling more than a dozen cities and towns.

Image: AP