• Sergei Lavrov says Russia is not “so squeaky clean”, but is not ashamed of showing who it is.
• Foreign minister claims the UN is being used; to amplify fake news from the West.
• Russia has opposed the eastward expansion of Nato, a 30-member military alliance of Western nations.

During an exclusive interview, Russia’s foreign minister justified Moscow’s activities in neighbouring Ukraine once more.

In response to a query from Steve Rosenberg, Sergei Lavrov concedes; “Russia is not squeaky clean.” “Russia is what it is. And we are not ashamed of showing who we are.”

Read More: Russia FM Lavrov cancels trip to Serbia

The minister claimed the United Nations is “being used to amplify fake news from the West;” after being read quotes from a UN report detailing alleged Russian war crimes. Of the invasion itself; Lavrov says: “We had absolutely no other way of explaining to the West that dragging Ukraine into Nato was a criminal act.” Russia has opposed the eastward expansion of Nato; a 30-member military alliance of Western nations.

Read More: Russia’s ‘unconditional priority’ is Donbas