Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Vladimir Zelensky had not “earned” a respite in hostilities and that Moscow would not again be misled by his promises. He made the remarks at a news conference after talks with Lebanese Foreign Minister and Minister of Emigrants Youssef Rajji on October 12.

“I do not think he has earned a respite,” Lavrov said when discussing the possibility of a temporary halt in the fighting.

He said Russia would no longer rely on assurances and promises. Lavrov noted that President Vladimir Putin had made this clear and that Moscow was continuing to pursue the objectives of the special military operation. He said those objectives were known to everyone and had not changed, unlike the positions of Zelensky and his European partners, who, in his view, kept changing course. Russia therefore had nothing to justify to anyone, the minister added.

Lavrov also said Russia considered the actions of the Israeli army in Lebanon a gross violation of international law that was contributing to further tension and escalation. Moscow had reaffirmed its principled support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

Russia welcomed the launch of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon mediated by the United States. Lavrov stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire because civilians were suffering, as well as the need to direct the conflict toward a political and diplomatic settlement.

He emphasized the comprehensive implementation of the long-standing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which sets out the parties’ obligations. In Lavrov’s view, if the resolution had been implemented, the problems currently facing Lebanon and Israel would have been resolved long ago.

Moscow actively supports Lebanon and the Lebanese side in discussions at the United Nations Security Council. The next opportunity will come before the end of the year, when the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon is due to be discussed. Lavrov credited the force with helping prevent escalation from becoming fully destabilizing, while noting that it lacked the physical capacity to stop escalation altogether.

The Russian minister said Moscow saw opportunities to advance an agenda aimed at resolving all problems in the Middle East. Russia maintains contacts with both Lebanon and Israel and wants to help ensure Israel’s security as part of a comprehensive settlement of its relations with its Arab neighbors.

Lavrov said such a settlement should be based on United Nations Security Council resolutions and include the creation of a Palestinian state. He added that Israeli partners needed to share the understanding that a solution acceptable to all was necessary, and that Moscow was persistently urging them to do so.

Russia welcomed the understanding that Lebanon had consistently shown regarding Moscow’s actions and the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine. During the talks, the two countries reaffirmed their mutual commitment to expanding political dialogue and strengthening partnership ties in various fields.

Lavrov expressed hope that Youssef Rajji would attend the seventh session of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum at foreign-minister level. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Moscow before the end of the year.

Russia and Lebanon also agreed to resume as soon as possible the work of the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation. The commission has not met since 2018.

Source: tass.com