MOSCOW, March 16. /TASS/. There is a great deal of truth in speculations to the effect the West has cracked down on Russia "as the last obstacle" to be surmounted before setting eyes on China, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview on RBC TV on Wednesday.

"There have been many speculations to the effect Russia is under attack because it is the last obstacle to be eliminated before dealing with China. This may sound a little bit straightforward, but there is a great deal of truth about it," Lavrov said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 launched a special military operation in Ukraine in response to a plea for help from the leaders of the Donbass republics. He said Moscow had no plans for an occupation of Ukrainian territories. After that the United States, the European Union, Britain and a number of other states said they were imposing sanctions against Russian individuals and economic entities.