MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said he sees no other option but for Russia to recognize the Donbas self-proclaimed republics.
"Thus, we will send a powerful signal to the Russian world. Throughout these eight years, we have not been looking indifferently at how our compatriots, our citizens have been mistreated. That's why I do not see any other option," Lavrov said at a special meeting of the Russian Security Council on Monday.
When commenting on the opinion that [Russia] should hold off on a decision like this in the hope that the West will change its position," Lavrov said, "Do you mean giving the West two-three days to change its mind? It is certainly a matter of taste, but it is clear to everyone that it will not change its position."
"All arguments" in favor of adopting a decision to recognize the independence of the Donbas self-proclaimed republics have been put forth at the Russian Security Council's meeting, he said.
"I also see here an aspect such as the term 'genocide', which you mentioned at the press conference with [German Chancellor] Olaf Scholz. The fact that they are now trying to support this blatantly neo-Nazi, Bandera regime in Kyiv is a manifestation of genocide," the minister said.
Slavic people, Orthodox people, "everything that is Russia" are under attack in Ukraine, he said.