Russian FM: If Ukraine does not demilitarize, Russia will ‘solve the issue’

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov renewed calls on Tuesday for Ukraine to demilitarize, warning that if it did not “the Russian army [will] solve the issue.”

He also repeated claims that Ukraine and the West were the cause of the war that began with Russia’s invasion on February 20, the Associated Press reported.

Lavrov alleged that Western nations were fueling the conflict in order to destabilize Russia, and said that it was up to Ukraine and its allies to decide to end the war.

The foreign minister demanded that Ukraine demilitarize to remove any perceived threats to Russia. He told Tass state news agency: “As for the duration of the conflict, the ball is on the side of the [Ukrainian] regime and Washington that stands behind its back.”

“They may stop senseless resistance at any moment,” Lavrov added.

In response, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter: “Russia needs to face the reality.”

“Neither total mobilization, nor panicky search for ammo, nor secret contracts with Iran, nor Lavrov’s threats will help,” he tweeted. “Ukraine will demilitarize the RF (Russian Federation) to the end, oust the invaders from all occupied territories. Wait for the finale silently.”

Lavrov also warned Western nations that continued aid to Ukraine could trigger a wider war.

“We keep warning our adversaries in the West about the dangers of their course to escalate the Ukrainian crisis,” he said.

He described that the “risk that the situation could spin out of control remains high.”

“The strategic goal of the US and its NATO allies is to win a victory over Russia on the battlefield to significantly weaken or even destroy our country,” he added.