Russia Renews Threat to Intervene in Ukraine as Truce Falters
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Ukraine edged closer to a new round of hostilities after the government in Kiev said it is resuming operations to oust militants from eastern cities and Russia pledged to defend its citizens in the neighboring country.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country is prepared to retaliate if its “legitimate interests” are “attacked directly,” drawing a parallel with its actions during a 2008 war over the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia.
A military operation is under way after its suspension for the Easter holiday, with security agencies seeking to eliminate all militias operating in Kramatorsk, Slovyansk and other cities, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Vitali Yarema told reporters in Kiev on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg.
“Russian citizens being attacked is an attack against the Russian Federation,” Lavrov said in an interview on Wednesday with the state-run television broadcaster RT. “If we are attacked, we would certainly respond.”
With international efforts to defuse the crisis grinding to a halt, the US said it will send 600 troops for exercises in four countries bordering Russia, days after NATO bolstered the defense of frontline member states in Eastern Europe. The opposing sides traded blame over the unrest as Ukraine stepped up accusations of Russian involvement in the killing of a politician and Russia pointed to signs of the US meddling in the situation.