Russia recognises Zelenskyy as Ukraine’s legitimate prez, aim is to ‘denazify’ country: Russian diplomat

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country “recognises [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy as Ukraine’s legitimate president”, while emphasising that Russia’s only aim is to “demilitarise” Ukraine.

Speaking during an interview on Wednesday, Lavrov said Russia recognises Zelenskyy as Ukraine’s legitimate president. However, Lavrov said, “he [Zelenskyy] lied to the people” with his promise to end the country’s civil war.

Lavrov also accused Zelenskyy of promoting “anti-Russian, Russophobe” rhetoric.

“Zelenskyy has been promoting “anti-Russian, Russophobe” rhetoric and making extremely controversial statements, Lavrov was quoted by Russian media as saying in an interview on Wednesday.

Emphasising that the goal of Russia’s “military operation” is to “demilitarise and denazify” Ukraine, Lavrov said the Ukrainians “must have a say in this matter”.

Once Ukraine is demilitarised, “the Ukrainians must decide themselves how they will live,” Lavrov said in an interview with Qatar’s Al Jazeera TV channel. “All people living in Ukraine must have a say in this matter,” he said.

Sergey Lavrov’s statement came as the Russian invasion of Ukraine entered its eighth day. Amid heavy shelling, bombing and street fighting in parts of Ukraine, the Ukraine’s State Emergency Service claimed that more than 2,000 civilians have died since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of Russian withdrawal from Ukraine. Meanwhile, in a series of tweets, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine has asked all Indians to leave Kharkiv immediately “under all circumstances” as Russia continues its lethal bombardment of Ukraine’s second largest city.