Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the United States not to cross Russia’s “red lines” over the Ukraine conflict, saying Washington was losing a sense of mutual restraint with Moscow, state news agency TASS reported.
In an interview on Wednesday, Lavrov said the Americans had “crossed their own red line” with regard to supplying arms to Ukraine, according to a Russian news agency.
“They (the US) must understand that our red lines are not something that can be toyed with. And they know very well where they are,” he was quoted as saying in the report.
Lavrov said the United States was beginning to lose a sense of mutual restraint with Russia and described this as “dangerous”.
“(US National Security Council spokesman John) Kirby said the issue of increasing support for Ukraine should be carefully considered so as not to lead to World War III, because it would be tragic to see Europe destroyed,” he said, adding that the US has a “deep belief that they are untouchable.”
Lavrov said he hoped Washington would understand the potential consequences of supplying arms to Ukraine.
“I am confident that there are reasonable people left there with significant influence. And I am hopeful that America’s interests will be kept in mind,” he said.
Meanwhile, at a press conference on Wednesday, Kirby said the US welcomes any country that is willing to help end the conflict in Ukraine.
“Any country that is ready to help end this war and does so taking into account the privileges of President Zelensky, the privileges of the Ukrainian people, his plan for a just peace, we would definitely welcome such a role,” he said.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin named India among the three countries with which he is in constant contact regarding the Ukraine dispute. He said that they are making sincere efforts to resolve this dispute.
“We respect our friends and partners, who, I believe, sincerely want to resolve all issues related to this conflict, primarily China, Brazil and India. I am in constant touch with my colleagues on this issue,” Putin was quoted as saying in a separate TASS report.
Putin’s remarks come within two weeks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Ukraine, where he held talks with President Zelensky.
On August 23, Modi visited Ukraine, where he told President Zelensky that Ukraine and Russia should waste no time in sitting together and end the ongoing war and that India was ready to play an “active role” in restoring peace in the region.
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