“It is blackmail. It is an attempt to pretend that the West wants to avoid excessive escalation, but in reality it is a deception,” the head of Russian diplomacy told a press conference at the conclusion of a meeting with his Yemeni counterpart, Shaya al-Zindani.

In reality, Lavrov insisted, it is that the Western bloc is seeking the opposite. “I think this is obvious to everyone,” he said.

Earlier, British media claimed that Ukraine wanted to conduct a “demonstrative” Storm Shadow missile attack on Russia’s deep territory, but the United States did not support that plan.

Russia has been continuing a special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, the objectives of which, according to President Vladimir Putin, are to protect the population from “genocide by the Kiev regime” and to tackle the national security risks posed by NATO’s eastward advance.

Ukraine is militarily supported by NATO, the war bloc headed by the United States which includes most of the countries of the European Union.

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