Lavrov: If Russia is Attacked, We Would Certainly Respond

The Geneva agreement between the US, European Union, Russia, and Ukraine apparently did nothing to alleviate tensions. Russia told Ukraine they will use military force if they are attacked.

“If we are attacked, we would certainly respond,” Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said in an interview with the Kremlin’s satellite news network, Russia Today, or RT. The network’s website published a short excerpt from the interview, which was scheduled to be broadcast later Wednesday.

“If our interests, our legitimate interests, the interests of Russians have been attacked directly, like they were in South Ossetia for example, I do not see any other way but to respond in accordance with international law,” Mr. Lavrov said.

Lavrov is comparing this situation to Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008. Georgia is an ex-Soviet state and Russia left with republics South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The four entities agreed to work together to stop pro-Russian forces from taking over more government buildings in east Ukraine and end conflicts diplomatically. However, it appears no one included a way to make this happen and no one is willing to take the first step. Pro-Russian forces keep making more moves. Journalists are kidnapped in Sloviansk and a Ukrainian politician was found dead with signs of torture on his body. There was a shootout at a checkpoint into Sloviansk and the pro-Russians claimed they lost three people. Ukraine said Russia tried to stir the pot by instigatiing the shootout while Russia said it was proof Ukraine is not doing anything to calm the people on their side.

Vice President Joe Biden visited Kyiv on Tuesday. He pledged US support along with $50 million, with $11.4 million earmarked for the May 25 presidential election. He told interim President Oleksandr Turchynov and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk it is “the most important election in Ukrainian history” and they must weed out the corruption.