Russia’s minister Lavrov says it hopes US takes no steps to escalate Ukraine conflict

MOSCOW – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published late on Nov 12 that he hoped Washington would take no actions liable to escalate the Ukraine conflict.

Mr Lavrov said US President Donald Trump had long advocated dialogue with Russia, had sought to fully understand the Russian position on Ukraine and “demonstrated a commitment to finding a sustainable peaceful solution”.

“We are counting on common sense and that the maintaining of that position will prevail in Washington and that they will refrain from actions that could escalate the conflict to a new level,” Mr Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian state news agency Tass.

Mr Lavrov’s comments were originally part of an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera. Tass said the Italian daily had declined to publish the interview.

He said Mr Trump had acknowledged that one of the reasons behind Russia’s actions was enlargement of the Nato alliance and the deployment of its infrastructure close to its border.

“In essence, that is what Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia have been warning about for the last 20 years,” Mr Lavrov was quoted as saying.

Mr Trump and Mr Putin held talks in Alaska

in August and Mr Lavrov spoke by phone to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Oct 20 to discuss a possible ​new summit, days after it was announced by Mr Trump following a phone call with Mr Putin.

Mr Trump subsequently said he had cancelled a prospective summit. The US President has backed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine with forces at their present positions, while Moscow has said it wants Kyiv to yield more territory.

In his comments published by Tass, Mr Lavrov said Europe was intent on undermining US moves to find a peaceful solution.

Europe, he said, was “sabotaging all peacemaking efforts and are rejecting direct contacts with Moscow”. “They introduce new sanctions which boomerang on their economies even further. They’re openly preparing for a new major European war against Russia.”

Russia would be ready to resume contacts with Europe “when this Russiaphobic frenzy passes. There is no other way to describe it”.

European leaders have accused Russia of waging “hybrid warfare” against European democracies and vowed to respond.

European Union countries backing Ukraine in October agreed over a 19th sanctions package against Russia and have been discussing ways to raise financial support for Kyiv – borrowing the money, or using frozen Russian assets. REUTERS