Interfax: Idea on Ukraine’s refusal from non-aligned status belongs to “war party” supporters in Kyiv – Lavrov

MOSCOW. Sept 2 (Interfax) – The proposal by the Ukrainian government to revoke the non-aligned status of the country shows the attempts of supporters of forceful conflict resolution in south-eastern Ukraine to disrupt the search for ways for political settlement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a news conference in Moscow on Tuesday.

“I would draw your attention to one very interesting fact – this initiative appeared right after agreements appeared following the meeting in Minsk to find a generally acceptable solution to the current domestic Ukrainian crisis in the framework of the contact group. So, the ‘peace party’ tried and is still trying to advance a negotiating and political solution on all main issues Ukrainians face now. At the same time, the ‘war party’ is taking steps which are clearly aimed at disrupting these efforts,” Lavrov said.

“To great regret, such moods in favor of enhancing the ‘war party’ positions in Kyiv are actively being heated up and incited from Washington, some European capitals and more and more often from Brussels and from NATO headquarters, where the North Atlantic Alliance secretary general gives statements with and without cause, which are not in his remit at all,” Lavrov said.

“We are aware that serious and responsible politicians in Europe and in the U.S. are opposed to any provocations and realize that the continuing the conflict via militia capitulation is senseless and futureless, realize the necessity of certain, targeted and comprehensive dialogue in order to fund a compromise on the future of the Ukrainian state, and we hope that their voice will prevail after all,” the Russian minister said.