CRI听力:Russian and West Trade Barbs over Ukraine

Russian foreign minister Saturday accused the West and NATO of being unable to change their Cold War mentality during his address at the United Nations General Assembly.

Sergey Lavrov said the crisis in Ukraine was the result of a coup d'etat in that country backed by the United States and the European Union.

He also said the Russian annexation of Crimea earlier this year was the choice of the largely Russian-speaking population there.

"The US and the EU supported the coup d'etat and reverted to outright justification of any acts by the self-proclaimed Kiev authorities that opted for suppression by force on the part of the Ukrainian people, which had rejected attempts to impose, throughout the country, a constitutional order and wanted to defend its rights to native language, culture and history."

Lavrov made no mention of Western allegations that Russia has sent troops and heavy weapons into eastern Ukraine in support of anti-Kiev rebels.

Russia and the West have been at odds over the Ukraine crisis since it erupted in February this year when Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted by an uprising.

In his address at the UN General Assembly, German foreign minister said Russia's actions in Ukraine have "broken international law" and must be countered by the international community.

He was referring to Russia's annexation of Crimea, saying it risks rekindling old tensions between East and West.

He called on the international community to put forth a political solution based on the principles of the United Nations.