MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned Israel’s use of the October 7 attack as justification for what he termed the collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Lavrov asserted that Israeli actions were unacceptable and urged for international monitoring on the ground in Gaza. Israeli tanks initiated a significant incursion into the southern Gaza Strip, battling their way to the center of Khan Younis on Sunday.
Lavrov’s statement reflects Russia’s ongoing concern over the situation in the region, with President Vladimir Putin attributing the conflict to the failure of US diplomacy in the Middle East.
Peace Talks Between Russia and Ukraine
Lavrov emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution. He also criticized Western attempts to exhaust Russia in Ukraine. He suggested that for peace talks to occur, Kyiv would need to reconsider its presidential decree prohibiting negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Russian Foreign Minister underscored the importance of recognizing the depth of the situation and called for a change in approach, particularly regarding the prohibition on negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
