According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Moscow is not in principle a supporter of sanctions. The diplomat also voiced Russia’s intention to firmly insist on the inviolability of the Minsk agreements
“We need to firmly insist on the sanctity of the Minsk agreements”, – Lavrov said in an interview with the YouTube channel Solovyov Live.
Asked why Russia does not impose sanctions against Ukraine, as the West does against Russia, Lavrov said that Moscow was not in principle in favour of sanctions.
“After all, what is happening now is a complete substitution of diplomacy, a culture of dialogue, compromise. Anything that is not in line with the West – here are the sanctions. And the European Union is already monkeying around, (using) American methods”, – the Russian foreign minister said.
Lavrov stressed that Russia is not interested in the Minsk agreements on the settlement in Ukraine collapsing, but if any party does this, then let it blame itself.
“We are not interested in that. And we will not destroy them. But if someone else ruins them, let him blame himself”, – he said.
Earlier Lavrov said when Russia and the US would hold talks on security guarantees. He also said, “The main thing is not to have any chatter. Lest our proposals get bogged down in endless discussion, which the West is famous for, and what it knows how to do.”