Aoun Meets EU Delegation, Urges Dialogue between Russia and Ukraine

President Michel Aoun said Friday Lebanon is against any military operation on any free state and urged for negotiations to end the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.

Aoun stressed, during a meeting with the EU Delegation in Lebanon, the importance of dialogue instead of war and violence.

"We stand against any military operation that violates the sovereignty and independence of any free country," Aoun said, adding that Lebanon has suffered from wars especially during the Israeli invasion of Beirut in 1982.

Meanwhile, al-Joumhouria newspaper had reported that the ministers of Hizbullah and Amal would once again criticize “Lebanon’s stance on the Russian-Ukrainian war” during a Cabinet session that will be held today in Baabda.

A statement, issued last week by the Lebanese Foreign Ministry, had condemned Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, sparking controversy in the Lebanese political arena, with many parties openly criticizing it, most notably Hizbullah and its allies, while the Russian Ambassador to Lebanon said the statement will not affect the relations between Lebanon and Russia.

Lebanon's vote at a U.N. General Assembly against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine followed.

Among 141 nations, Lebanon voted Wednesday in favor of a U.N. resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as five countries rejected it and 35 nations chose to abstain.