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<\/p>\nThe West's "500-year domination of the world" is coming to an end, Russia's foreign minister has warned.<\/p>\n
Sergei Lavrov spoke out against countries like the UK and the US, claiming the western countries are waging a "hybrid war" against his country based on "cancel culture." He also insisted Russia had become stronger as a result of its ongoing war in Ukraine and compared the invasion to defeating Adolf Hitler and Napoleon.<\/p>\n
Lavrov, who is sanctioned by both the UK and the EU, said: "It is up to the Ukrainians to recognise how deep they are in the hole where the Americans put them." When asked whether a ceasefire could be brought about through diplomatic discussions with Russia's besieged neighbour, he added: "You'll have to call Mr (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy (the Ukrainian president) because a year-and-a-half ago he signed a decree prohibiting any negotiations with (Vladimir) Putin."<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Vladimir Putin refuses to step down as he readies to stay President until at least 2030<\/b><\/p>\n
For more of the latest news from the Daily Star, click here.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
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The comments come after Putin reaffirmed plans to rerun for office in Russia's elections next year. Despite controversy over the war, calls for the dictator to be overthrown and his allegedly ailing health, the despot seems eager to serve at least one more term.<\/p>\n
This would see Putin remain President until 2030 at the earliest, the Daily Star previously reported \u2013 unless the now-71-year-old is booted out by enemies or kicks the bucket first. Despite the laundry list of reasons why the tyrant should perhaps step down, Putin's victory in securing his fifth term seems all but inevitable given that he has been in power for the last two decades.<\/p>\n
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Reports from the secretive nation suggest some 80% of Russians supported another term for the polarising president in an independent poll. But if this figure seems a little unrealistic, it probably is. The Kremlin has been known to go to extremes to silence any opposition and has cracked down on any criticism of its leader since he came to power.<\/p>\n
The former KGB agent took over from Yeltsin in 1999 and is the longest-serving Russian leader since fascist dictator Josef Stalin. He took a brief pause from the top job between 2008 to 2012 to serve as Prime Minister under Dmitry Medvede before returning as head of state.<\/p>\n
His current term ends on May 7, 2024 and elections are due to take place in advance of this date, on March 17.<\/p>\n
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