Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed out that the Kiev regime and its Western puppeteers do everything they can in order to prolong hostilities.

In an interview for air.ru published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website on Tuesday, Lavrov indicated that China's peace plan for Ukraine is consonant with key Russian approaches, "especially regarding the need to ensure equal and indivisible security for all countries in Europe and in the world in general."

In late February, China released a 12-point document titled "China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis" emphasizing Beijing’s respect for the sovereignty of all countries, calling for the cessation of hostilities and resuming negotiations between Moscow and Kiev.

"So far, the peace process has been hindered by Kiev and its Western puppeteers who exert all efforts in order to prolong the hostilities," the top Russian diplomat said.

Lavrov noted that Russian and Chinese leaders Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping stated "the importance of further close coordination on foreign policy."

The Russian Foreign Minister explained that Russia and China "see the causes of main challenges in the international security area in a similar way" and "note the West’s unwillingness to engage in an inter-state dialogue based on principles of equality."

He added that the two countries "oppose the use of sanctions pressure methods and other instruments of unscrupulous competition."

"Meanwhile, our strategic cooperation is not aimed against third countries. It contributes to balanced development of the entire international system," Lavrov noted.

Lavrov noted that the Chinese side reaffirmed its "weighted position on the Ukrainian issue," adding, "We welcome Beijing’s readiness to play a constructive role in political and diplomatic resolution of the conflict."

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EU unfriendly to Russia: Lavrov

In a related context, the Russian Foreign Minister mentioned that Russia is viewing the European Union as an unfriendly association now.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the EU has imposed 10 sanctions packages against Russia, the least of which was imposed on February 24, marking the conflict's first anniversary.

"The European Union has 'lost' Russia. However, it is its own making. Exactly the EU member-states and leaders of the Union openly state the need of inflicting the strategic defeat to Russia, as they say," Lavrov said.

"They are filling the criminal Kiev regime with weapons and munitions and send instructors and mercenaries to Ukraine. These are the reasons why we consider the EU to be the unfriendly association," he added.

Lavrov said the Russian side made necessary conclusions from this situation, stressing that Moscow will act in response to hostile steps "decidedly if necessary, being governed by national interests of Russia and the reciprocity principle commonly adopted in the diplomatic practice."

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