Tensions soar as Lavrov accuses NATO: Moldova at risk of aggression
An unprecedented statement was made by Sergey Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit in Skopje. Vladimir Putin's close associate suggested that another country could fall victim to Russian military aggression, just as Ukraine did two years ago. According to him, NATO is to blame.
5:17 AM EST, December 1, 2023
Many reports from Russian media and government officials are likely to be untrue. Such reports could be part of a wider information war waged by the Russian Federation.
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, attending a two-day conference of the 30th Ministerial Council of the OSCE. His presence resulted in a boycott of the summit by Poland, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Lavrov openly criticized opponents of the Russian Federation and accused NATO of cunningly attempting to weaken his country. He didn't address the unwarranted aggression toward Ukraine.
This was just the introduction to the Russian politician's speech in North Macedonia.
During the official summit session of the OSCE on Thursday, Sergey Lavrov demonstrated Russian audacity in his speech. Some diplomats exited the room when the head of Russian diplomacy began his address. Consequently, they missed his direct criticism of NATO and the United States, and his threat to another European country.
He held NATO responsible for facilitating social protests in Georgia and Ukraine, which "obliged" Russia to intervene and initiate two wars. The first was the invasion of Georgia in 2008, followed by the disruption of Ukraine in 2014, and then invasion in 2022. Sergey Lavrov criticized the West and pointed out another potential conflict zone in Europe.
"Moldova is destined to be the next victim in the hybrid war against Russia unleashed by the West," the Russian foreign minister stated.
The Russian representative's words caused a stir. He accused Western leaders like Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande, and Petro Poroshenko of cynicism: openly asserting that Western influences destabilize the region and their policies incite armed conflicts. He hinted that another conflict could erupt in Moldova, which he would blame on NATO countries.
Lavrov propagated Russian theories and falsifications, of course.
It was Russia that separated South Ossetia and Abkhazia from Georgia, causing instability in the country as it sought to bring it under Moscow's control. The same approach was used in Ukraine, where the regions of Crimea and Donbas were unsettled, resulting in puppet republics subservient to Russia. In Moldova, this tactic was successfully employed with the unrecognized Transnistria region.
Russian forces remain stationed there, ready to strike at Chisinau. Moldova's authorities rejected the so-called Kozak Memorandum 20 years ago, refusing to be ruled by Moscow. Now, the Russians posit that NATO's policy will trigger a war in Moldova, while they themselves are poised to make an assault on this small country.
It's clear that Vladimir Putin remains intent on expanding Russia's influence and appears unwilling to compromise.
