Information Minister Ziad Makary on Friday welcomed at his ministerial office the Russian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Rudakov, with whom he discussed Lebanese-Russian bilateral relations. 

In the wake of the meeting, Ambassador Rudakov said that talks with Makary also touched on the best means to bolster  cooperation within the media sector. 

“We’ve also discussed the ongoing developments in Ukraine in light of the Russian military operation,” Rudakov added. 

Regarding Lebanon’s stance concerning the Ukrainian crisis, the Russian diplomat said that his country expected Lebanon to express a balanced position vis-à-vis the Russian military operations in Ukraine.

“We are aware that the Lebanese people and the Lebanese Republic suffer a deep economic and political crisis. We hope that all the problems being faced by the Lebanese leadership handling presidential and parliamentary elections will be resolved,” Rudakov added. 

“Russia is ready to cooperate and expects of Lebanon to understand the causes of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, why Russia started it, why it continues its military operation in Ukraine, and what are the real goals behind this military crisis,” the Russian diplomat concluded.