The Russian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Rudakov, said that Russia is not in a state of war but is conducting a special operation with specific goals, reiterating that Russia refuses the use of Ukrainian infrastructure to implement NATO threats against its national security.

Rudakov stressed in a press conference that Russia isn't adopting a hostile policy toward Ukraine but is only exercising its legal right of protecting its national security and Russian citizens in Donetsk and Lugansk, which the Kiev government and NATO are trying to deprive Moscow of.

The Russian Ambassador added that Moscow has repeatedly demanded the necessity of implementing the Minsk agreements and confirmed that the military operation is not aimed at the Ukrainian people, who have historical relations with the Russians. 

On the Lebanese Foreign Ministry's statement condemning the Russian military operation in Ukraine, the Ambassador said he did not think that would largely affect Moscow's relations with Beirut.

"In difficult days, we see who is with us and who is against us," he added at a press conference in the Lebanese capital.

The Foreign Ministry had issued a statement, two days ago, in which it condemned what it described as "the invasion of Ukrainian territory" and called on Russia to "immediately stop military operations, withdraw its forces from it, and turn to dialogue and negotiation to resolve the conflict."

In response, the Lebanese President's Advisor, Amal Abu Zeid, said she was surprised by the Lebanese FM's position regarding Russia and Ukraine, adding that "it seems that the Lebanese foreign minister was pressured to issue the statement regarding Russia."

The Russian Embassy in Lebanon expressed its surprise at the statement issued by the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants regarding the Russian special military operation in Donbass and considered it a statement that contradicts the policy of disassociation Lebanon adopts and is biased toward one party against another.