Lavrov Accuses Zelenskyy of Turning to “Terrorist Tactics” as Fighting Intensifies
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of shifting from seeking a “strategic defeat” for Russia to what he described as “terrorist activities” amid continued fighting on the battlefield.
Speaking about the course of the war, Lavrov said Ukrainian officials had initially declared their goal was to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. However, he claimed that as the situation on the front line changed particularly in the Donbas and other sectors Kyiv altered its rhetoric.
According to Lavrov, Ukraine’s military setbacks have led Zelenskyy to increasingly rely on long-range strikes inside Russian territory. He argued that Ukrainian authorities are presenting these attacks as a turning point in the conflict despite what he described as continued battlefield pressure.
Ukraine has consistently rejected Russia’s characterization of its operations as terrorism, saying its long-range strikes are legitimate military actions aimed at degrading Russia’s military capabilities and logistics in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The remarks come as both Russia and Ukraine continue to intensify long-range attacks while heavy fighting persists across multiple fronts, with neither side showing signs of easing military operations.