Moscow
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Thursday that Moscow has no expectations from the new U.S. administration but will evaluate its actions on a case-by-case basis. Lavrov said that Russia remains open to contact with the United States under President-elect Donald Trump but emphasized that the ‘ball is in the US court.’
Lavrov reiterated that Russia is always ready for communication, noting that President Vladimir Putin had previously expressed this sentiment. Referring to a recent report by The Washington Post about a potential phone call between Trump and Putin, which the Kremlin denied, Lavrov said that Russia had not interrupted communication with the U.S. and would judge future interactions based on concrete actions.
Lavrov also shared his views on U.S. foreign policy, suggesting that containing China would remain a priority for the Trump administration, similar to the policies under President Joe Biden. He also criticized Washington’s approach to Russia, asserting that the U.S. sees Russia as a threat and aims to weaken it on the global stage.
On the topic of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Lavrov said that Russia had never refused negotiations and reiterated that Russia’s goal was not to interfere in Ukraine’s internal affairs, but to protect its own interests and influence. He also responded to U.S. discussions about a potential peace envoy for Ukraine, indicating that any proposals would be assessed on whether they align with Russia’s national interests.
