Russia wants to overthrow the government in Kiev, as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has now confirmed. In April he had said that the regime should not be replaced. According to the Kremlin, the Russian and Ukrainian peoples should live together in the future. What that should look like was not explained in detail.
“We are certainly helping the Ukrainian people to free themselves from the regime that is absolutely hostile to the people and history,” Lavrov said during his visit to Cairo on Sunday. He contradicts his own statements from April. “We have no intention of changing the regime in Ukraine,” the Russian chief diplomat said at the time. Ukrainians were allowed to decide for themselves under which leadership they wanted to live.
Position publicly aggravated
In recent days, the Russian leadership has publicly tightened its stance on the war in Ukraine. Lavrov threatened on Wednesday that Russian troops would occupy more areas outside the Donbass. This was attributed to western arms shipments and their greater range. Kiev forces will be further pushed back from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which Moscow has recognized as independent. Lavrov had previously rejected peace talks. There is currently no point in resuming negotiations with Ukraine.
Kiev: ‘Moscow doesn’t know history’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Lavrov’s statements in his daily video address on Sunday. “Only those who don’t know the real story and don’t feel its importance can choose to attack us.” The Ukrainian people would never give up their independence. National unity must be preserved to win the war and join the EU.
The Ukrainian military administration in Kherson has already announced its first successes in retaking the area. “We can say that a turning point has been reached on the battlefield. We see our troops advancing openly. Ukrainian troops are switching from defensive to counter-offensive,” said Serhiy Khlan of the military administration. He estimates that Kherson will be freed in September. According to him, Ukrainian forces are preparing a ground offensive and in recent weeks have brought parts back into the southern Ukrainian region. By March 3, Russian troops had already captured the capital Kherson of the same name. The region is important for agriculture and is close to the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.
On Saturday, Russian troops are said to have attacked the port of Odessa with several missiles. Infrastructure would have been destroyed. The day before, Ukraine and Russia had signed an agreement that would allow the export of Ukrainian grain. Odessa is one of the three gates that must be opened for this.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
