Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called on Israel to stop using “essentially terrorist methods” to settle political scores, following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Lavrov believes Israel’s actions are aimed at provoking Iran and Hezbollah in order to draw the US into the conflict in the Middle East.
He criticized Israel for previous provocative acts, such as the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and attacks on the Iranian diplomatic mission in Syria. Lavrov emphasized the need to end the bloodshed and prevent the conflict from spreading to other countries.
Regarding Ukraine and NATO involvement, Lavrov drew parallels between Israeli and Ukrainian actions, suggesting both countries are trying to provoke external interference in their conflicts. He also expressed skepticism about peace initiatives involving France and Switzerland, questioning their neutrality.
Lavrov reiterated Russia’s commitment to peace initiatives and urged Ukraine to reconsider its position on negotiations with Russia. He also commented on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposals to revise the nation’s nuclear doctrine, stating that Russia has no plans to increase its nuclear arsenals.