Lavrov pledges ‘full protection’ for any territory annexed by Russia

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 24, 2022. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo/File Photo UNITED NATIONS, Sept 24 (Reuters) – Russia’s top diplomat on Saturday said regions of Ukraine where widely-derided referendums are being held would be under Russia’s “full protection” if they are annexed by Moscow, amid fears Russia could further escalate the conflict and even use nuclear weapons. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, addressing the U.N. General Assembly and the world’s media in New York, attempted to justify Russia’s February invasion of its…