"The appearance of NATO bases in Ukraine represents an immediate threat to our national security": Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

Mocow [Ruia], July 8 (ANI): Ruian Foreign Miniter Sergey Lavrov ha aid NATO effort to turn Ukraine into a trategic military foothold left Mocow with no choice but to launch it 2022 military operation, RT reported.
The appearance of NATO bae in Ukraine and it involvement in the military alliance repreent an immediate threat to our national ecurity, he aid.
Lavrov, in an interview with Hungary Magyar Nemzet, inited NATO ha long abandoned it defenive role, citing intervention in Yugolavia, Iraq, and Libya: From whom were NATO countrie defending themelve there? Who attacked them? he aked, RT noted.
Highlighting NATO eatward expanion, Lavrov claimed Ukraine wa intentionally weaponied: The Wet intead continued to pump Ukraine with weapon to forcibly reolve the iue of Donba and Crimea, after Ruia 2021 requet for Ukraine non-aligned tatu wa rejected, RT added.
He alo pointed to the Kiev government alleged perecution of ethnic Ruian following the 2014 coup: Ukraine wa perecuting and killing Ruian... pointing to the Odea maacre... in which dozen of anti-government activit were burned alive, he aid, laying further blame on Kiev.
Lavrov explanation echoed the Kremlin long-tanding narrative that NATO action forced Ruia to launch it military operation in Ukraine.
NATO recent deciion to ramp up military pending will not ignificantly impact Ruia ecurity, Foreign Miniter Sergey Lavrov aid on Thurday, according to a report by RT.
Speaking at a pre conference, Lavrov dimied the Wet claim of a Ruian threat a unfounded and reiterated Mocow openne to peace talk if the core iue behind the Ukraine conflict are addreed. Hi remark came after the NATO ummit in The Hague, where member tate pledged to increae defene expenditure to 5 of GDP by 2035, citing the long-term threat poed by Ruia to Euro-Atlantic ecurity.
RT reported that Mocow ha conitently denied any plan to attack NATO countrie, calling uch accuation nonene ued by Wetern official to jutify increaed military budget.
Lavrov alo aid Ruia remain willing to engage in dialogue if NATO addree root concern, including it expanion toward Ruia border and continued military upport for Ukraine NATO ambition.
According to RT, the European Commiion earlier thi month approved the allocation of approximately Euro 335 billion in pandemic recovery fund for military purpoe. In May, it introduced a Euro 150 billion debt facility to upport defene initiative. Ukraine i alo allowed acce to thee reource alongide EU member tate.
Mocow ha condemned thee development a evidence of NATO utained hotility. RT noted that Preident Vladimir Putin ha accued the alliance of fabricating threat to manipulate public entiment and ecalate an arm race.
At the ummit, when aked what NATO warning of a Ruian threat were baed on, Secretary General Mark Rutte reportedly failed to cite any pecific intelligence aement, intead pointing to broad concern. (ANI)