06:08Angola: 'Based on the desire of people to defend their legitimate rights' - Lavrov on start of Russia-Ukraine conflict
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed the essence of the conflict in Ukraine is based on 'the desire of people to defend their legitimate rights', during a working meeting with Angolan Foreign Minister Tete António in Luanda on Wednesday.
"The Angolan people know the price of independence and the opportunity to exercise their cultural and political rights and follow their traditions. You also actively contribute to the just settlement of various conflicts in your region. <…> The same conflict, based on the desire of people to defend their legitimate rights, occurred some time ago in Ukraine after an armed and bloody anti-constitutional coup d'état," Lavrov claimed.
The Russian foreign minister also recalled that at the beginning of 2022, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky 'openly announced' Ukraine's intentions to acquire nuclear weapons.
In turn, Angolan Foreign Minister Tete António said that Luanda was 'disturbed' about the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, 'which may affect other countries of the world'.
"We are very disturbed by this [military conflict] as it entails the loss of life and destruction of infrastructure. War does not help relations between countries," António said.
On February 19, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski said at the Munich Security Conference that he instructed the Foreign Ministry to convene a summit of the member states of the Budapest Memorandum. According to him, if it does not take place or does not provide Ukraine with security guarantees, the Memorandum will be declared invalid by Kiev.
The Budapest Memorandum was signed by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, the UK and the US on December 5, 1994. Under this document, Ukraine eliminated its nuclear arsenal and Russia, the US and the UK guaranteed Kiev's security.
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
06:08Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed the essence of the conflict in Ukraine is based on 'the desire of people to defend their legitimate rights', during a working meeting with Angolan Foreign Minister Tete António in Luanda on Wednesday.
"The Angolan people know the price of independence and the opportunity to exercise their cultural and political rights and follow their traditions. You also actively contribute to the just settlement of various conflicts in your region. <…> The same conflict, based on the desire of people to defend their legitimate rights, occurred some time ago in Ukraine after an armed and bloody anti-constitutional coup d'état," Lavrov claimed.
The Russian foreign minister also recalled that at the beginning of 2022, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky 'openly announced' Ukraine's intentions to acquire nuclear weapons.
In turn, Angolan Foreign Minister Tete António said that Luanda was 'disturbed' about the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, 'which may affect other countries of the world'.
"We are very disturbed by this [military conflict] as it entails the loss of life and destruction of infrastructure. War does not help relations between countries," António said.
On February 19, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski said at the Munich Security Conference that he instructed the Foreign Ministry to convene a summit of the member states of the Budapest Memorandum. According to him, if it does not take place or does not provide Ukraine with security guarantees, the Memorandum will be declared invalid by Kiev.
The Budapest Memorandum was signed by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, the UK and the US on December 5, 1994. Under this document, Ukraine eliminated its nuclear arsenal and Russia, the US and the UK guaranteed Kiev's security.
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.