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Lavrov vows Russia will beat back longer-range weapons, if Kiev gets any

The top diplomat stressed that the escalation of the conflict is snowballing

MOSCOW, February 2. /TASS/. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a warning on Thursday, vowing that the longer the range of Western weapons Kiev gets, the further Moscow will beat back this threat from its territories.

"We now aim to beat back Ukrainian artillery far enough that it will not pose any threats to our territories and the longer the range of weapons supplied to the Kiev regime, the further we will have to drive them away from the territories that are part of our country," Russia’s top diplomat said in an interview with TV newscaster Dmitry Kiselyov.

Replying to a question about the scenario that Russia needed to prepare for, Lavrov said that Moscow proceeded from objective realities. ‘First of all, from the realities enshrined in our legislation, [that is], in our Constitution. Four new territories: two people’s republics and two regions joined Russia, after the results of the referendum. Here, no questions can arise, as I see it," he pointed out.

"The West stays restive and is getting increasingly bogged down in a well-known substance, in a quagmire as is narrated in sad fairy-tales and this factor plays a key role in the course of the special operation, in my view," Russia’s top diplomat said.

The escalation of the conflict is snowballing, Lavrov pointed out. "It all began with [the deliveries of] some helmets for Ukrainian servicemen, then small arms followed and now they openly talk about aircraft," Lavrov specified.

"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz swears that this will never happen, but Scholz is also known for his ability to alter his stance quite quickly," the foreign minister noted.

"Moreover, he is far from being alone here. Thus, he has stated that NATO would never fight against Russia while Foreign Minister Mrs. [Annalena] Baerbock has said: ‘We are already fighting against Russia and are doing this in a concerted way," Lavrov pointed out.