US, NATO want victory on Ukraine battlefield to destroy Russia: Lavrov

MOSCOW (AA) – The US and NATO are seeking victory on the battlefield in Ukraine to destroy Russia, according to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“The actions of countries of the collective West and (Ukrainian President) Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is controlled by them, confirm the global nature of the Ukrainian crisis,” Lavrov said in an interview with Russian state-run TASS news agency.

“It is no secret that the strategic goal of the US and its NATO allies is victory over Russia on the battlefield as a mechanism for significantly weakening or even destroying our country.”

Lavrov said the US remains the “main beneficiary” of the Ukraine war, profiting economically and militarily, while also pursuing its “geopolitical goal of breaking traditional Russian-European ties to further subjugate Europe.”

“The US is doing everything to prolong the conflict and make it more violent. The Pentagon is openly planning orders for the American defense industry for years to come, constantly raising the bar for military spending … and demanding the same from other members of the anti-Russian alliance,” the minister said.

He said Ukrainian forces are being given latest weapons, including some not yet used by Western armies, to test them in combat.

Lavrov accused American politicians of trying to get Ukraine into NATO “by hook or by crook,” while publicly opposing any sort of direct clash between the alliance and Russia.

“This is pure hypocrisy. Member states of the alliance have de facto become a party to the conflict already, with Western private military companies and military instructors fighting alongside the Ukrainians,” he said.

“The Americans have been transferring satellite and other intelligence data to Ukrainian commanders practically in real time, while also playing a role in planning and conducting combat operations.”

‘US, Ukraine can end the war’

To a question, Lavrov said Kyiv and Washington hold the key to ending the conflict.

They can end it at any time by addressing the threats identified by Moscow, or Russia “will eliminate them itself,” he said.

He slammed the West for falsely accusing Russia of planning to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

“We have repeated again and again that there can be no winners in a nuclear war, and it should never be unleashed,” he asserted.

He said Russia has taken note of changes in the US nuclear doctrine, including the possibility of a “disarming strike.”

Lavrov urged the West to “exercise maximum restraint” and be “extremely sensible” when it comes to nuclear weapons.

On ties with the US, the minister termed the current state of relations “deplorable,” emphasizing that any steps for improvements must be based on the principle of reciprocity.