Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow and Washington cannot implement mutually beneficial projects before the war in Ukraine ends, emphasizing that Russia does not seek war but will not abandon its national interests. He also expressed hope that a will prioritizing national interests would prevail in Europe.
In an interview with El Arabiya, Lavrov said that once the conflict in Ukraine is “cleared out of the way,” Moscow and Washington could move forward with projects based on mutual benefit.
“Once the War Is Removed, We Can Move to Projects”
“Russia and the United States will be able to implement mutually beneficial projects the moment we ‘remove’ the war in Ukraine from the path. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that this is not his war but Biden’s war and that he wants to end it as soon as possible. Today, this war occupies the very top of the global agenda. We must first eliminate this obstacle, and then return to projects,” Lavrov said.
“Russia Is Not Seeking War but Will Not Bow to Threats”
“We are not seeking war, we do not want war. But if our European neighbors openly prepare for war against us instead of acknowledging their mistakes and recognizing that we must live together, then that would be an entirely different war conducted by entirely different means. I hope that in today’s European capitals, especially in Brussels, the bureaucratic political class that answers to no one will give way to forces that think about the interests and welfare of their own citizens. With such actors, we would have much to discuss and agree upon.”
“Europe Is Hysterical; No One Objects to Kyiv’s Laws”
Lavrov said Europe is “almost hysterically” demanding that Russia begin negotiations on Ukraine while simultaneously claiming that Ukraine defends so-called European values.
“What is there to discuss under such circumstances? No one is lifting a finger to force Kyiv to repeal laws banning the Russian language in all spheres or targeting the canonical Orthodox Church. There is no comparable situation in the world; Hebrew is not banned in Palestine, Arabic is used in Israel, yet the banning of Russian in Ukraine is tolerated.”
“We Will Continue the ‘Alaska Understanding’ in Geneva”
Lavrov said discussions with the Americans in Geneva would continue based on what he called the “Alaska understanding,” which recognizes the root causes of the conflict and the need to eliminate them.
“For us, any formula that questions the decision of the people of Donbass or places Ukraine’s NATO membership on the table is unacceptable. The main obstacle is the Kyiv regime that came to power through a coup in 2014 and violated the agreements reached.”
“Europe’s Security Guarantees Are Designed Against Russia”
Lavrov argued that the security guarantees Europe promotes for Ukraine are formulated directly against Russia.
“This means the EU seeks to guarantee its security as long as the Kyiv regime remains hostile to Russia and continues the war against us.”
“The EU Wants to Keep the Ukrainian Army at Wartime Level”
He added that European countries aim to preserve Ukraine’s military machine and integrate it into EU military structures, including intensified training of personnel.
“Russia–U.S. Relations Are Pragmatic”
“Our relations with the United States are pragmatic. President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance have openly said that everyone acts based on their own national interests but must also recognize the interests of the other side. Disagreements always exist, but that does not mean dialogue should stop. Where our interests overlap, we should develop projects; where they do not, we must manage the situation without allowing it to escalate into direct conflict.”
“Zelensky Has Clearly Shown He Does Not Want Peace”
Lavrov said remarks by Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference demonstrated that he does not want peace.
“Anyone who listened to or read his speech can see that this person does not favor peace; he practically declared it openly. He previously called those living in Donbass ‘creatures’ and told those who feel connected to Russian culture to ‘pack up and go to Russia.’ This rhetoric reveals the true intentions of the Kyiv regime.”
“There Can Be No Peace Without a Palestinian State”
Lavrov stressed that without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, there can be neither peace nor stability in the Middle East. Without addressing the root causes, the Arab-Israeli conflict cannot be resolved.
“If Evacuated from Gaza, Return Must Be Guaranteed”
He said Gaza has been completely destroyed and is currently uninhabitable. While Palestinians may need to relocate temporarily during reconstruction, their guaranteed return must be ensured, along with rapid rebuilding of housing and infrastructure.
“We See Saudi Arabia as a Strategic Partner”
Lavrov said Russia views Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner and noted ongoing high-level dialogue, including recent contacts between President Vladimir Putin and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“We Will Talk to Europe Once It Comes to Its Senses”
Lavrov said Russia would eventually resume dialogue with Europe once it “comes to its senses,” adding that French President Emmanuel Macron had recently made discreet contact attempts.
He also noted that Moscow had hosted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, describing them as pragmatic leaders acting in their countries’ interests.
“Syria Wants Russia’s Military Presence to Continue”
Lavrov said the Syrian government supports maintaining Russia’s military presence and that discussions continue regarding the Hmeimim and Tartus bases, which Damascus views as contributing to regional stability.
“It Is No Coincidence That Iran Does Not Want to Talk to Europeans”
Lavrov said Iranian officials’ reluctance to negotiate with European countries over the nuclear program is not accidental, accusing Europe of failing to genuinely revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
“A New Attack on Iran Would Have Serious Consequences”
Finally, Lavrov warned that any new attack on Iran would have serious consequences for both the region and Russia. He said previous U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision created the risk of a real nuclear incident and undermined the authority of the non-proliferation regime, despite Iran’s repeated commitment to its obligations.