Russian Embassy in Athens: There is no plan to invade Ukraine

“Russia, at the highest level, has made it clear that it has no plans to invade Ukraine,” said Vassily Gavrilov, a spokesman for the Russian embassy in Athens, speaking to Athens radio stations

He spoke of an “ordinary propaganda campaign” and a “communications hysteria against Russia,” targeting the “manipulation of public opinion, mainly in western countries, but also globally.”

“Obviously, since the US invasion of Iraq, on the occasion of Saddam Hussein’s alleged chemical weapons, the methods of Washington’s policy have not changed. The media of some countries constantly present Russia as an attacker. This is just nonsense “, he underlined, while expressing his concern about the possibility of some provocations in the area.

“All the predictions made at a very high level in Washington and London about the dates of the Russian attack on Ukraine have not been fulfilled. And they could not be fulfilled. We see various movements again of a propaganda nature. For example, when the United States removes its diplomatic personnel from Ukraine in order to create anti-Russian impressions,” he said.

Tool in the hands of the USA

According to Gavrilov, “even the Kiev regime, also at the level of the government, he says in Washington,” you are hurting us with your war declarations. We see no evidence of an impending Russian invasion. This is not going to happen immediately, at least,” they say in Kiev.

He pointed out that Ukraine is “primarily a tool in the hands of the United States pursuing a policy of containment, of restraining Russia, as well as China, obviously”, adding that “the Ukrainian authorities have understood this and that is why they are doing the specific statements that go against US policy. And now the Ukrainians are trying to back down but the US or London does not want hear,” he said.

The Russian diplomat made special reference to the fact that “Russian troops are all located within the Russian borders”, saying that “there is no special accumulation of Russian troops on our western border. Some exercises are conducted, but they are constantly done in Russia. Our troops must guard Russian territory. It is the NATO infrastructure that is approaching the Russian border with the accession of new members. And that’s exactly what is happening, not the opposite. Russia is not approaching NATO borders,” he said.

“We have also seen fake news from the American news agency Bloomberg, which published that Russia has allegedly already invaded Ukraine. Then they apologized, saying that what they did was wrong,” he said.

Provocations are possible

He recalled that “in August 2008, when Georgian President Saakashvili attacked the autonomous region of Ossetia, the Western media for a few days showed Georgian tanks and said that it was the Russian army invading Georgia.”

Asked if a balance would be struck so that dialogue and peace could prevail over war and tension, Gavrilov wished for peace, but said “unfortunately there is always the possibility of provocation.”

“Now they are just causing the escalation of tension and not the de-escalation we all need. But Kiev must also show independence and sobriety and start implementing the Minsk Agreement, with the aim of finding a peaceful solution to the civil crisis,” he said.

“As in the Cyprus issue, the Minsk Agreements, which provide for the provision of special status in the Donbas, Donetsk and Lugansk regions, have become part of international law. They have been approved by UN Security Council Resolution 2202”, concluded the representative of the embassy of the Russian Federation in Athens.