According to Lavrov, judging by what is happening on the battlefield, “we are still very far from a political and diplomatic solution to the situation.”

Lavrov described the missile attacks against Russia’s internationally recognized territory as “a backward step.” “All our warnings that there will be an adequate response to these unacceptable actions were ignored,” he added.

“No escalation by the enemy will make us back down from achieving the goals of the special military operation,” Lavrov said.

The foreign minister said that the root causes of the conflict must be tackled, adding that among them are “the creation of long-term threats to Russia’s security in the western direction, including the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to the east.”

Lavrov also mentioned the violation by the Kiev authorities of the rights of Russians and people with Russian culture and the Orthodox faith.

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