05:28During a meeting in Moscow on Tuesday with Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister Timothy Kabba, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed appreciation for Sierra Leone's stance on the situation in Ukraine. Lavrov stated that the country had a ‘principled position’ on the conflict, stemming from the West's long-prepared ‘hybrid war’ against Russia.
"We reiterated our appreciation for Sierra Leone's principled position on Ukraine, resulting from the West's long-prepared hybrid war against Russia to weaken our country, threaten our security and deny the legitimate rights of millions and millions of Russian-speaking residents of Crimea and Donbass," the Russian FM said.
Lavrov also noted that both countries shared an interest in reforming the United Nations Security Council to better reflect the current global landscape. He emphasised the need to address historical injustices and increase representation for African, Asian, and Latin American nations in key international institutions.
"We are interested in seeing the principle of 'African solutions to African problems' put into practice. <...> Foreign players, while trying to offer assistance, pursue primarily their own interests which are inconsistent with the interests of Africans themselves. <...> The main task for us is to eliminate historical injustices and to ensure additional representation of African, Asian and Latin American countries in this key institution," Lavrov emphasised.
For his part, Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister Timothy Kabba congratulated President Vladimir Putin on his victory and inauguration, wishing him and the Russian people continued prosperity. Kabba expressed gratitude for Russia's support of Sierra Leone's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, highlighting the strategic partnership between the two nations.
"It is now very clear that the Russian Federation is a very strong partner of the Republic of Sierra Leone," Kabba stated, acknowledging the potential for further collaboration. He added that Sierra Leone would take the presidency of the United Nations Security Council in August, immediately following Russia's term, showcasing the growing influence of African nations in international diplomacy.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
Russia appreciates 'Sierra Leone's principled position' on Ukraine - Lavrov and FM Kabba hold talks in Moscow
During a meeting in Moscow on Tuesday with Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister Timothy Kabba, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed appreciation for Sierra Leone's stance on the situation in Ukraine. Lavrov stated that the country had a ‘principled position’ on the conflict, stemming from the West's long-prepared ‘hybrid war’ against Russia.
"We reiterated our appreciation for Sierra Leone's principled position on Ukraine, resulting from the West's long-prepared hybrid war against Russia to weaken our country, threaten our security and deny the legitimate rights of millions and millions of Russian-speaking residents of Crimea and Donbass," the Russian FM said.
Lavrov also noted that both countries shared an interest in reforming the United Nations Security Council to better reflect the current global landscape. He emphasised the need to address historical injustices and increase representation for African, Asian, and Latin American nations in key international institutions.
"We are interested in seeing the principle of 'African solutions to African problems' put into practice. <...> Foreign players, while trying to offer assistance, pursue primarily their own interests which are inconsistent with the interests of Africans themselves. <...> The main task for us is to eliminate historical injustices and to ensure additional representation of African, Asian and Latin American countries in this key institution," Lavrov emphasised.
For his part, Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister Timothy Kabba congratulated President Vladimir Putin on his victory and inauguration, wishing him and the Russian people continued prosperity. Kabba expressed gratitude for Russia's support of Sierra Leone's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, highlighting the strategic partnership between the two nations.
"It is now very clear that the Russian Federation is a very strong partner of the Republic of Sierra Leone," Kabba stated, acknowledging the potential for further collaboration. He added that Sierra Leone would take the presidency of the United Nations Security Council in August, immediately following Russia's term, showcasing the growing influence of African nations in international diplomacy.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
During a meeting in Moscow on Tuesday with Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister Timothy Kabba, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed appreciation for Sierra Leone's stance on the situation in Ukraine. Lavrov stated that the country had a ‘principled position’ on the conflict, stemming from the West's long-prepared ‘hybrid war’ against Russia.
"We reiterated our appreciation for Sierra Leone's principled position on Ukraine, resulting from the West's long-prepared hybrid war against Russia to weaken our country, threaten our security and deny the legitimate rights of millions and millions of Russian-speaking residents of Crimea and Donbass," the Russian FM said.
Lavrov also noted that both countries shared an interest in reforming the United Nations Security Council to better reflect the current global landscape. He emphasised the need to address historical injustices and increase representation for African, Asian, and Latin American nations in key international institutions.
"We are interested in seeing the principle of 'African solutions to African problems' put into practice. <...> Foreign players, while trying to offer assistance, pursue primarily their own interests which are inconsistent with the interests of Africans themselves. <...> The main task for us is to eliminate historical injustices and to ensure additional representation of African, Asian and Latin American countries in this key institution," Lavrov emphasised.
For his part, Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister Timothy Kabba congratulated President Vladimir Putin on his victory and inauguration, wishing him and the Russian people continued prosperity. Kabba expressed gratitude for Russia's support of Sierra Leone's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, highlighting the strategic partnership between the two nations.
"It is now very clear that the Russian Federation is a very strong partner of the Republic of Sierra Leone," Kabba stated, acknowledging the potential for further collaboration. He added that Sierra Leone would take the presidency of the United Nations Security Council in August, immediately following Russia's term, showcasing the growing influence of African nations in international diplomacy.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.