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(Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has criticized the United Nations for allegedly ignoring abuses perpetrated by Ukrainian forces during their recent operations in the Kursk region of Russia. His remarks were made during an interview with TASS news agency while attending the U.N. General Assembly in New York, and were published on Wednesday.
Lavrov characterized the actions of Ukrainian forces as those of “terrorist groups” utilizing Western-supplied weaponry to execute indiscriminate attacks within Kursk. “Every day they are targeting homes, social institutions, and civilians simply traveling in their cars to seek safety,” he stated in the interview.
The Russian foreign minister expressed concern over the absence of comments from U.N. representatives, including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, regarding these alleged violations. “I have not heard any voices from U.N. representatives responsible for human rights,” Lavrov noted.
In contrast, Ukraine, alongside various human rights organizations, has accused Russia of committing widespread bombings and atrocities against civilians since the start of its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian officials assert that they are responding to an imperialist campaign aimed at erasing their national identity, while Russia defends its actions as a necessary measure for its security against a perceived threat from the West.
Ukrainian forces launched an incursion into the Kursk region in early August, claiming to have taken control of significant areas and approximately 100 settlements. However, the Russian military recently reported regaining some of this territory, underscoring the ongoing volatility of the situation. Russia had previously indicated a willingness to engage in discussions with Ukraine, contingent upon Kyiv withdrawing its troops from four territories that Russia has annexed, but has since stated that negotiations cannot commence while military operations are ongoing in Kursk.
In addition to addressing the conflict, Lavrov conveyed a warning to Eastern European nations, which were former Soviet allies during the Cold War and are now part of NATO and the European Union. He suggested that the leaders of Western nations show a lack of trust towards these countries. “Eastern European countries must understand how their masters feel about them,” he remarked, adding that these nations are being overlooked for significant positions of influence.
Furthermore, Lavrov claimed that a growing number of countries are moving away from relying on the U.S. dollar as a principal currency, which had been previously upheld by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as a ‘world-wide asset.’ He pointed out that “people are either fleeing from the dollar or, for those too entrenched in the system, they are seeking to minimize their dependence.” This shift reflects a significant change in global financial dynamics.
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