Lavrov said that the project to integrate Ukraine into NATO has failed
MOSCOW, may 7 — RIA Novosti. The project to integrate Ukraine into NATO and the use of the Crimea in terms of military encirclement of Russia failed, due to disagreements, the Alliance froze relations with Russia, including in the fight against terrorism, said Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
“NATO members are offended that their project is in full absorption of Ukraine into its zone of influence and the inclusion of Ukraine into the Alliance, the inclusion of the Crimea into their plans for the military encirclement of the Russian Federation, these plans have failed,” Lavrov said in an interview with TV channel “Mir”.
According to the head of the Russian foreign Ministry, “because of the resentment toward this objective historical fact they froze everything that we had in common, including in the fight against terrorism”.
Crimea became a Russian region after held there in March 2014 referendum in which 96.77% of voters of the Republic of Crimea and 95.6% of residents of Sevastopol voted for joining Russian Federation. Crimean authorities held a referendum after a coup in Ukraine in February 2014. Ukraine still considers Crimea its but temporarily occupied territory. The Russian leadership has repeatedly stated that the inhabitants of Crimea democratically in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter voted for reunification with Russia. According to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the Crimea issue “is closed permanently.”