Ukrainan Ambassador to Lebanon Ihor Ostash (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT – The Ukrainian Ambassador to Lebanon Ihor Ostash Monday praised the Lebanese government and its people for “standing behind” Ukraine as the country is being invaded by Russia.
Here’s what we know:
• “From all my heart, I thank the Lebanese government and its people for standing behind us,” Ostash said in a press conference. “We are receiving many support messages on our social media pages from Lebanese people showing their support to us in our war,” he added.
• On Sunday Russia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Rodakov said that the official Lebanese position, which condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, “will not greatly affect bilateral relations between the two countries.” He added however that the Foreign Ministry's stance "does not take into account the friendly bilateral relations between the two countries.
• On Thursday, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry “condemned the invasion of Ukraine and called on Russia to stop its military operations immediately, withdraw its forces and resort to dialogue and negotiations as the ideal way to resolve the ongoing conflict.” The position immediately came under fire on the local scene and several parties have already distanced themselves from it.