MITSIWA /Eritrea/, January 27. /TASS/. Russia is grateful to Eritrea for the consistent support of its UN initiatives and commends the country’s principled and balanced position regarding the events in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters at a news conference after talks with his Eritrean counterpart Osman Saleh Mohammed.

In spring 2022, Eritrea was among the countries that voted against a UN resolution condemning Russia over the events in Ukraine.

"We are thankful to Eritrean friends for their consistent support of Russian initiatives in the UN. To many of them, Eritrea is a co-author. We note Asmara’s principled and balanced position on issues regarding the events in Ukraine and around it," Lavrov said.

"We share the opinion that Ukraine is used as an instrument of the West, mobilized under the US guidance with the goal of ensuring the US dominance in all regions," the Russian top diplomat continued.

Lavrov went on to say that under the present-day circumstances, when Africa and other developing global regions are actively searching for measures to strengthen their identity, "additional prospects for cooperation open within the framework of Russia and the African Union."

In his words, the second Russia-Africa summit, due this summer, will be particularly important in that regard.