“If we are attacked, we would certainly respond. If our interests, our legitimate interests, the interests of Russians have been attacked directly, like they were in South Ossetia for example, I do not see any other way but to respond in accordance with international law,” he said.
“Russian citizens being attacked is an attack against the Russian Federation,” he told RT.
Referencing Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s trip to the Vatican on Wednesday, Lavrov said the acting Prime Minister would do better to visit the South of Ukraine and actually meet with the anti-Maidan protesters.
The foreign minister also spoke about American involvement in the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, accusing Washington of trying to manipulate the situation.
“There is no reason not to believe that the Americans are running the show,” said Lavrov, referencing US Vice-President Joe Biden’s visit to Kiev and its coincidence with the renewed counter-terror operation on activists in eastern Ukraine.
“It’s quite telling they chose the moment of the Vice President of the US’ visit to announce the resumption of this operation because the launching of this operation happened immediately after [head of the CIA] John Brennan’s visit to Kiev,” said Lavrov.
The situation in Ukraine is just another example of Washington trying to gain ground in the geopolitical fight, the minister said.
Lavrov just laid down his own “Red Line” in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian response should be coy. Offer to relocate Russians “unhappy with Ukraine” to Russia. Say that some of the Russians are unhappy not living “under Putin”, but Putin is not the leader of Ukraine.
They might even include “financial incentives” for Russians who want to relocate to Russia. “Though we are far less financially successful than Russia, we will gladly pay to help those Russians who would be happier in Russia to relocate, since Russia seems unwilling to pay for them to return home to Russia. Solely because we want those who live in Ukraine to be happy with all things Ukrainian.”
Russian bullies. I HATE bullies.