Fri Dec 06 05:20:35 UTC 2024: ## Lavrov: Hypersonic Missile Use a Warning to the West
**Moscow, December 6, 2024** – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asserted Thursday that Russia’s use of hypersonic missiles in the Ukraine conflict served as a stark warning to the West. In an interview with U.S. journalist Tucker Carlson, Lavrov stated the deployment of the Oreshnik missile, described by President Vladimir Putin as undefeatable, aimed to demonstrate Russia’s willingness to employ any means necessary to avoid strategic defeat.
Lavrov accused the West of refusing to engage in discussions regarding security guarantees for Russia before the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow terms a “special military operation.” He reiterated Russia’s claim that the conflict was not initiated by Moscow, citing years of warnings about NATO expansion as a source of escalating tensions.
He further criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace plans, dismissing them as unproductive. Lavrov emphasized that Russia remains open to negotiations, contingent on Ukraine acknowledging Moscow’s control over the four annexed regions. However, he warned the West against underestimating Russia’s resolve, stating that any miscalculation regarding Russia’s “red lines” would be a grave mistake. He underscored that Russia’s actions are driven by its legitimate security interests, contrasting them with what he characterized as the West’s pursuit of global hegemony. Lavrov’s comments follow a month after the deployment of the hypersonic missile against Dnipro.
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