West's primary goal in conflict in Ukraine is to inflict strategic defeat on Russia, target China 🇨🇳 and secure its hegemony, Russia's defence chief Sergey Shoigu said at a regular defence ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states in New Delhi on Friday.
However, attempts to put pressure on friendly states in a bid to isolate Russia have failed, Shoigu pointed out.
US, Allies Seek to Provoke Countries to Military Confrontation With Russia & China
"Today, Washington and its accomplices are implementing their strategic plan, which consists in provoking other countries into a military confrontation with ... primarily with Russia and China. A clear confirmation of such a criminal policy is the conflict in Ukraine. Its true goal is to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, threaten China and maintain its monopoly position in the world," Shoidu said on Friday.
The US seeks to reformat the system of interstate relations by creating controlled regional alliances, using blackmail and threats, the minister added.
The actions of the United States and its allies aimed at preserving the US' world dominance have eroded the global security architecture, he underscored.
The current meeting with colleagues from SCO member states was taking place in "an extremely unstable" international environment, Shoigu noted The formation of a new multipolar world is causing drastic, dynamic and irreversible changes, which are opposed by the collective West, the Russian defense minister said.
On Situation in Afghanistan
NATO states should take responsibility for the post-war reconstruction in Afghanistan because they are to be blamed for the current humanitarian situation there, Shoigu stated.
SCO members earlier underlined that seizing Afghanistan's overseas assets and imposing unilateral sanctions by Washington are the main factors that hinder improvement of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
Russia Increasing Combat Readiness of Military Bases in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
Russia is increasing the combat readiness of its bases in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan amid attempts by the United States and its allies to restore its military presence in Central Asia, Shoigu said.
Under the pretext of assistance in the fight against terrorism, the United States and its allies are trying to restore their military presence in Central Asia, the minister said, adding that Moscow sees their requests to the countries of the region to deploy military infrastructure as "a direct threat to stability in the SCO space."