Russia is ready to respond to the
unfolding crisis in Ukraine as it did in Georgia in 2008 if its
'legitimate' interests are attacked, Foreign Minister Serghiei
Lavrov said Wednesday.
"If we are attacked, we would certainly respond," Lavrov
said.
"If our interests, our legitimate interests, the interests
of Russians have been attacked directly, like they were in South
Ossetia for example, I do not see any other way but to respond
in full accordance with international law," continued Moscow's
chief diplomat.
In summer 2008 Russia attacked Georgia after Georgian
troops moved against pro-Russian rebels in the separatist South
Ossetia region.
South Ossetia has had de facto independence from Georgia
since 1992, since Russian peacekeeping troops have been present.
In the present crisis, Russia has massed thousands of
troops along Ukraine's eastern border and is accused of backing
an armed revolt by pro-Russian militants in the Donetsk and
Luhansk regions after supporting the secession of, and
subsequently annexing, Crimea in March.
Lavrov also accused the United States of "running the show"
in Ukraine, where Vice President Joe Biden met with the
country's interim authorities on Tuesday.
Later that day Ukraine's interim President Oleksandr
Turcinov ordered the resumption of military operations against
the militant campaign in a move which Lavrov described as "quite
telling".
"There is no reason not to believe that the Americans are
running the show," he said.
Also on Tuesday American journalist Simon Ostrovski was
kidnapped by pro-Russian militants in the eastern city of
Sloviansk, a flashpoint in the crisis.
His colleagues at Vice News said they were in contact with
the US State Department and other government authorities to
ensure his safety.
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