Report by Naveed Ahmad Khan
MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Russia’s relations with the West have fundamentally changed since the launch of the special military operation in February 2022, arguing that Moscow no longer trusts Western governments after what he described as repeated attempts to deceive Russia.
In an interview with TASS, Lavrov said President Vladimir Putin’s declaration that “there is no going back to the way things were before February 2022” reflected Russia’s assessment of its future relations with Western countries.
Lavrov accused Western governments of pursuing policies aimed at weakening Russia, claiming that calls for Russia’s “strategic defeat” and “decolonisation” amounted to efforts to dismantle the Russian state. He said Moscow viewed these developments as a serious threat and urged people to recognize what he described as the West’s broader intentions.
Commenting on the conflict in Ukraine, Lavrov asserted that Russian forces continue to make steady progress on the battlefield while prioritising the safety of their personnel. He alleged that Ukraine, with Western support, was attempting to offset battlefield setbacks through attacks targeting civilian infrastructure and public life.
The Russian foreign minister also criticised Western military assistance to Ukraine, saying that some governments were portraying recent attacks involving long-range weapons as evidence that Ukraine could eventually defeat Russia.
Lavrov described the conflict as part of a broader historical struggle, saying Russia was confronting forces he characterised as successors to Nazism. He also criticised recent statements by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding Germany’s future role in Europe, warning that such rhetoric carried serious implications.
Outlining Russia’s foreign policy priorities, Lavrov said the country’s core national interests are to preserve its sovereignty, maintain its status as an independent civilisation, secure its borders, and prevent outside powers from interfering in its internal affairs.
He added that Russia’s civilisation is distinguished by its respect for history and the sacrifices of previous generations, contrasting this with what he described as the West’s different outlook.
Addressing prospects for peace negotiations, Lavrov rejected proposals that would require a ceasefire before comprehensive talks. He criticised Western proposals involving a temporary truce followed by the deployment of multinational forces led by France and Britain, describing such ideas as an ultimatum that would freeze the front line while leaving the current Ukrainian government in place.
Lavrov reiterated that Russia must continue to rely on its own capabilities, echoing President Putin’s longstanding position. Despite what he described as the serious consequences of the ongoing conflict, he said Russia remained determined to achieve its objectives, invoking the legacy of those who fought against Nazi Germany during World War II.
The interview reflects Moscow’s current official position on the conflict and Russia’s relations with Western countries.
