Russia’s Foreign Minister says Moscow “undoubtedly” recognizes Ukraine’s independence — but blames 2014’s “bloody coup” for today’s divide. Sergei Lavrov claims eastern Ukrainians simply followed the advice of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by moving towards Russia.⁣ ⁣ “It is not about territories for us,” Lavro said. “It is about the people who have been living on those lands for centuries, more than 300 years. They were building cities, including Odessa, founded by Catherine the Great — history which the Zelenskyy government is trying to erase, but he cannot undermine this.”⁣ ⁣ #RussiaUkraine #Lavrov #UkraineCrisis #Geopolitics