Lavrov: West’s ’Colonial-Style’ Sanctions Aim to Change Russia, Not Settle Ukraine Crisis

Local Editor

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the goal of Western sanctions is to force to change the position of the Russian Federation on the key and fundamental issues, and not to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, in a show on Russia's NTV channel on Sunday.

"Our partners, who actually imposed the sanctions, do not hide the fact that the goal of these measures is not Ukraine. Essentially, in their statements and actions the true purpose of the restrictions are seen - to make over Russia, to change its position on the key issues of fundamental importance to us and to get [Russia] to take the position of the West," Lavrov said in the show.

According to Lavrov, Western politicians are not talking about a change of regime in Russia, "although some of the outcasts in Europe say such phrases."

"By and large, they tell us to change our policies and approaches. It would be one thing if we were offered to look for something together. But we are told - we know how to act, and you must do it," he added.

He added that such behavior is "the last century, the past era, colonial, inertial way of thinking."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team