Lavrov calls to end Gaza 'violence', backs Vance's Ukraine stance

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Jul 2024 05:54

After the announcement of J.D. Vance as the Republican vice-presidential candidate, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed support for Vance's stance on Ukraine.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addresses the 10th International Forum "Primakov Readings" in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP)

After US Republicans announced J.D. Vance as Republican vice presidential candidate, and given his stance on Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, on Wednesday, that Moscow is prepared to work with any US president willing to engage in "equitable, mutually respectful dialogue."

Lavrov was in New York to preside over two United Nations Security Council meetings during Russia's presidency of the council in July.

Moscow welcomes JD Vance's stance on Ukraine

Regarding Vance, Lavrov said the Republican VP candidate is "in favor of peace, he's in favor of ending the assistance that's being provided and we can only welcome that because that's what we need - to stop pumping Ukraine full of weapons and then the war will end."

In that context, Lavrov stated that Russia is prepared to work with any American leader chosen by the US people, provided the leader is willing to engage in fair and mutually respectful dialogue.

"Under Trump there were more and more sanctions that were imposed, economic sanctions, diplomatic sanctions were imposed, however, at that time ... dialogue was underway between us and Washington at the highest levels," Lavrov said adding that "Right now there is no such dialogue."

Russia denies interference in US elections

An assessment released this month by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence indicated that Russia "remains the primary threat to our elections." It also mentioned that unidentified "Russian influence actors" are covertly planning to "sway public opinion" in swing states and "reduce U.S. support for Ukraine."

"We do not interfere in other states' domestic affairs. This includes the United States," Lavrov said.

'Israel' must end war on Gaza

Though he condemned Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, the Russian foreign minister argued that the need to "end violence" in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is essential as the death toll has become "horrifying".

Lavrov said, "What is now happening in Gaza is unacceptable collective punishment of the civilian population," adding that "The military clearance of the Gaza Strip, the most densely populated place on the planet, which for years has been called an open-air prison, has been underway for nearly 300 days. The large-scale military operation, which Israel has conducted together with its American ally, has resulted in horrifying statistics in terms of casualties and destruction."

According to the foreign minister, after almost 10 months, the death toll is now nearly 40,000 and the toll of injured, about 90,000 Palestinians, alongside the massive scale of destruction, is "twice as many as the number of civilian casualties on both sides over the ten years of the conflict in southeastern Ukraine.”

Lavrov urged:

"Dear colleagues, ending the violence in Gaza and the West Bank can create conditions not only for finding a lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, but also for tackling other crisis hotspots throughout the vast expanse of the near and the Middle East in accordance with Security Council resolutions, rather than certain geopolitical ambitions or rules that the West attempts to use to replace the UN Charter."

Lavrov blamed the US' failed policy for the "unprecedented explosion of violence" in the region, accusing Washington of being a "direct participant in the conflict," just as it is in Ukraine.

According to Lavrov, "If this support stops, the bloodshed will be stopped."

Further, he called "Israel's" genocide in Gaza a form of "collective punishment."

"When it comes to collective punishment in violation of international humanitarian law, one cannot fight against one form of violation through other violations. It's the same principle here," he stated.

Meanwhile, Lavrov relayed that the Lebanese Resistance, Hezbollah, "has been very much restrained in its actions," but that the occupation is trying "to provoke them into a full-blown engagement."

"Neither Hezbollah, nor the government of Lebanon, nor Iran want a full-blown war," he explained, adding, "and as a suspicion that some circles in Israel are trying to achieve just that, to provoke a full-blown war, trying to engage the US, trying to make the mind."

He believed "it's terrible if some groups are trying to prioritize their personal interest rather than the interests of their own nation," noting that Russia was "doing everything possible to calm tensions."

We support Palestine's membership in the Security Council

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the session rejected the collective punishment taking place in Gaza, stressing that "Gaza is in ruins."

The foreign minister announced that Russia is supportive of Palestinian UN membership and expressed Russia's support for a ceasefire, calling for safe and adequate humanitarian access.

He emphasized the need for all foreign stakeholders to put their geopolitical objectives aside and end the decades-long persecution of Palestinians.