Russian foreign minister comments on Armenia in CSTO, Kiev's revenge, EU plans for Ukraine

Photo: TASS

Moscow will not agree to another ceasefire in Ukraine without a clear understanding of what will follow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters following a joint meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Council of Defense Ministers and the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Lavrov highlighted that EU countries intend to use military exercises that began in Poland to rehearse the deployment of troops to Ukraine to protect the Kiev Nazi regime.

The Russian foreign minister said that Armenia will continue to have the right to collective security within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) even if it is stripped of its voting rights in the organization due to unpaid dues.

TASS has compiled the foreign minister's key statements.

EU plans

Europe is once again seeking to give the Kiev regime a respite to rebuild its military capabilities, but Moscow will not agree to this: "[European Commission President] Ursula von der Leyen said: 'There will be no discussions on the parameters of a security architecture until there is a sustainable ceasefire.' This reflects the same old logic: they need to buy time for their clients, the Kiev regime, and use that time to somehow make up for the military losses they have suffered. We will not agree to that."

EU countries intend to practice the deployment of troops to Ukraine during exercises that have begun in Poland: "Europe's plan is very simple, and they are not hiding it: as soon as a ceasefire takes effect, they will deploy 'stabilization forces' into territory controlled by the Kiev regime. Meanwhile, around 10 to 12 EU countries have begun military exercises in Poland, coinciding with the talks in Abu Dhabi. So far, 2,000 personnel are taking part. But the scenario for these exercises is the deployment of troops to Ukraine to protect the Kiev Nazi regime from Russia."

No ceasefire without clarity on what comes next

Russia will not agree to another ceasefire in Ukraine without a clear understanding of what will follow: "We will not agree to another truce, another ceasefire, whatever it may be called, without understanding what comes next."

Kiev's revenge

The Kiev regime could eventually begin to "punish" Russia's friends and allies "in an aggressive rage": "I do not rule out that at some stage, in such a, you know, aggressive rage, the Kiev regime may well begin to 'punish' our friends and allies. I wouldn’t put it past it."

The Kiev regime is attacking targets not only deep inside Russia with Western assistance, but also in other countries: "The actions of the Kiev regime come as no surprise as it is attacking targets not only deep inside Russia using Western weapons, Western satellite data, and other Western-provided guidance methods, but also targets in foreign countries."

Talks in Abu Dhabi

European representatives who chose to travel to Abu Dhabi can sit in their hotel: "As for the Europeans' participation, well, they have flown to Abu Dhabi. Let them sit in the hotel there."

"At the proposal of US mediators, the talks [in Abu Dhabi] focus on the parameters of a future security architecture for Ukraine, Russia and the region as a whole. In other words, they concern European security. This is a fundamental point, because all we hear now from Brussels and other EU capitals are calls for an immediate ceasefire."

The idea of first establishing clear security guarantees is perfectly reasonable.

Armenia's membership in CSTO, EAEU

Armenia has not filed a formal request to withdraw from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) or the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO): "We have received no application from Armenia to leave the CSTO or the Eurasian Economic Union."

Armenia will continue to have the right to collective security within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) even if it is stripped of its voting rights in the organization due to unpaid dues: "Even after such a decision is made, our Armenian colleagues will effectively retain all the fundamental rights under the Collective Security Treaty, including the right to collective security."

The door to the Collective Security Treaty Organization remains open to Yerevan, and Armenia will not be expelled from it.

Middle East

Russia hopes that the United States will not take further military action against Iran: "Regarding [US President] Donald Trump's statement that Washington is not considering further military scenarios (against Iran - TASS), I hope this will be so."

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