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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the West of launching a ‘total hybrid war’ against Russia.
Speaking on the 80th day of the conflict in Ukraine, Mr Lavrov said it was hard to predict how long ‘hybrid war’ would last.
Highlighting the barrage of sanctions imposed on Moscow by the West, the minister attempted to portray Russia as the target, not the perpetrator, of aggression.
‘The collective West has declared total hybrid war on us and it is hard to predict how long all this will last but it is clear the consequences will be felt by everyone, without exception,’ he said in a speech.
Mr Lavrov said efforts by the West to isolate Russia were doomed to fail, pointing to the nation’s relations with China, India, Algeria and Gulf countries.
He also accused Western nations of stealing other countries’ assets and losing their reputation as reliable partners.
‘In the future, the world economy will be de-Americanised,’ he said.
‘We did everything to avoid a direct clash – but now that the challenge has been thrown down, we of course accept it.
‘We are no strangers to sanctions: they were almost always there in one form or another.’
His comments come hours after G7 foreign ministers signed a statement saying member nations will continue to put economic pressure on Russia.
The group, which includes the UK, USA, Canada, Japan, Germany, France and Italy, also backed giving more aid and arms to Ukraine as well as speeding up efforts to ‘end reliance on Russian energy supplies’.
FURTHER READING:
‘We reaffirm our determination to further increase economic and political pressure on Russia, continuing to act in unity,’ a joint statement read.
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