Ukraine’s FM: “[Lavrov’s] Hands Are Covered With Blood”

SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): The Ukrainian regime has pursued a course of aggressive de-Russification and forced assimilation throughout these years. People who consider themselves Russians and would like to preserve their identity, language and culture are told they are strangers in Ukraine. Zelensky called them specimens and advised them to move away to Russia. He initiated the adoption of a law on indigenous peoples, amongst which — amongst whom there is no place for the Russians who have been living on these lands for centuries.

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AMANPOUR: So, you know what he’s doing, right? I mean, he’s laying the groundwork for their rationale for this. What is your response to that?

DMYTRO KULEBA, UKRAINIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Sergey Lavrov is Joachim Ribbentrop of his time. He serves his boss. His hands are covered with blood of Ukrainian children. And he will bear responsibility as an accomplice in the crime of aggression and war crimes committed by Putin in Ukraine. As someone who believes in international law and graduated from international law faculty, I have absolutely no doubt about that.

AMANPOUR: Former Minister Kuleba, again, just to ask you about the steadfastness of yourself, and, of course, your president and your whole government, and, of course, your people, President Zelensky spoke again today with President Biden. Apparently, it was a quite long call. And Biden has offered, apparently, several times to airlift him and I guess any of you out to safety. And, again, in the inimitable words of your president, he said: Actually, I don’t need a ride. I need ammunition. What are you still asking the United States and NATO for at this particular time?

KULEBA: Air force and anti-missile defense and weapons. The problem is that Russia dominates in the sky. Our pilots are fighting fiercely and courageously against them, but we also have losses. So, the Russians use their fighting jets and bombers to attack our cities. And we need to counter this threat. So these are the two most urgent requests that we launched with our partners and friends.