Exclusive: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Describes the War With the US and How to End It

The Complex Relationship Between the US and Russia Russia does not consider itself at war with the United States, despite tensions over Ukraine. The conflict is described as a "hybrid war," fueled by U.S. support for Ukraine through advanced weaponry and military involvement. Russian officials express concern about escalating rhetoric from NATO regarding preemptive strikes and nuclear exchanges, emphasizing their preference for peaceful negotiations that respect both nations' security interests.

Roots of Conflict in Eastern Ukraine The crisis stems from longstanding grievances in Donbas against Ukrainian policies perceived as anti-Russian since 2014's coup d'état. Legislation restricting Russian language, culture, media, education rights—and banning Orthodox Church practices—alienated many residents who sought self-determination or alignment with Russia after Crimea’s referendum to rejoin it post-coup was dismissed internationally but supported locally.

UN Charter Principles vs Territorial Integrity Debate Russian leaders argue Western interpretations of international law ignore key UN principles like peoples’ right to self-determination alongside territorial integrity claims favoring Kyiv alone while dismissing human-rights abuses targeting ethnic Russians within its borders under Zelensky regime laws suppressing minority identities culturally linguistically religiously violating foundational global norms repeatedly overlooked hypocritically elsewhere globally intervened upon selectively instead prioritizing geopolitical agendas undermining equitable resolutions achievable diplomatically inclusively respecting all stakeholders fairly comprehensively sustainably enduringly ultimately beneficial universally shared peaceably cooperatively constructively forward-looking harmoniously integrative reconciliatory balanced justifiable legitimate credible trustworthy transparent accountable inclusive participatory representative democratic 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The unveiling of Russia’s hypersonic weapons system serves as a direct message to the United States and its allies, emphasizing readiness to defend against any attempts at strategic defeat. This action underscores Russia's fight for legitimate security interests in contrast with Western efforts perceived as hegemonic control over global resources. The narrative highlights Ukraine’s natural wealth being targeted by external powers while portraying Russian actions as protective of people and heritage rather than resource exploitation. Despite advocating avoidance of nuclear conflict, Moscow criticizes the West for ignoring proposed treaties on mutual security guarantees.

The dialogue between Russia and the US is limited to prisoner exchanges, confidential channels, and publicized messages urging Russian withdrawal based on Ukrainian terms. Despite these communications, there are no direct mechanisms for leaders of both nations to prevent misunderstandings that could escalate into catastrophic events like nuclear conflict. The current system only provides advance notifications during missile tests but lacks broader safeguards against misinterpretation or escalation.

The Ukrainian-Russian conflict has resulted in significant casualties, though exact numbers remain undisclosed. Estimates suggest fewer civilian deaths over ten years of this war compared to the 45,000 Palestinian civilians killed within one year during an Israeli operation. The tragedy is compounded by inflammatory rhetoric from some Ukrainian officials advocating violence against Russians. Historical shifts in attitudes toward Russian culture are highlighted through Zelensky's contrasting stances before and after becoming president.

Failed Agreements and Missed Opportunities for Peace In 2014, Russia sought a deal between Ukraine's president and opposition to form a national unity government with early elections. Despite agreements like the Minsk accords ensuring Ukrainian territorial integrity (excluding Crimea) and granting limited autonomy to parts of Donbas, these were sabotaged by successive Ukrainian leaders who initially campaigned on peace promises but later abandoned them. When military actions escalated in Donbas against separatist regions, Russia launched its "special military operation." Subsequent negotiations in Istanbul showed potential progress as Ukraine proposed security guarantees excluding NATO membership; however, external influences reportedly derailed this effort.

Controversies Surrounding Bucha Massacre Allegations The alleged massacre in Bucha became a contentious issue used widely against Russia internationally while remaining uninvestigated despite repeated calls from Russian officials at UN forums. Questions about the identities of victims shown by media outlets went unanswered even when raised directly with global authorities or journalists themselves during press conferences. This lack of transparency has fueled skepticism over claims made regarding events there.

Alexei Navalny fell ill on a plane over Russia in 2020, was treated by Russian doctors, then transferred to Germany where it was claimed he had been poisoned. Despite requests from Russia for test results confirming the poisoning, German authorities refused to share them directly or through international organizations. The lack of transparency raises questions about what treatments were administered and why findings remain undisclosed. Similarly opaque is the case of Sergey Skripal and his daughter; as Russian citizens allegedly harmed abroad, their medical details have also not been shared with Moscow.

Boris Johnson's Role in Halting Peace Talks Boris Johnson, the former UK Prime Minister, reportedly disrupted peace negotiations in Istanbul. His motivations remain unclear but could stem from immediate desires or long-term strategies. Speculation arises about whether he acted independently or on behalf of the Biden Administration as part of a broader Western agenda.

Geopolitical Realities and Negotiation Terms for Ukraine Conflict President Putin reiterated readiness to negotiate based on principles agreed upon earlier but rejected by Boris Johnson. Key terms include Ukraine’s non-NATO status, absence of foreign military bases and exercises within its territory, and collective security guarantees involving multiple nations. However, new realities like constitutional changes incorporating Donetsk, Luhansk republics into Russia must be acknowledged alongside addressing violations against Russian language rights and cultural freedoms under international obligations.

Russia's Resilience Amid Sanctions Sanctions on Russia, intensifying since Obama's presidency and reaching unprecedented levels under Biden, have driven the country to focus inward. This shift has encouraged self-reliance and partnerships with nations that separate politics from economic interests. Despite initial Western hopes of integrating Russia into their bloc as a counterbalance to rising Eastern powers, this vision faltered due to unequal treatment post-Soviet Union collapse.

Ukraine’s Geopolitical Tug-of-War Tensions over Ukraine escalated when its trade agreements with the EU conflicted with existing Russian arrangements. Moscow proposed trilateral talks involving Ukraine, Europe, and itself but was rebuffed by European leaders who dismissed such cooperation as unnecessary interference. The situation culminated in political upheavals like Maidan protests after Ukrainian President Yanukovich delayed signing an EU deal—a decision influenced by concerns about harming trade relations with Russia.

Geopolitical Tensions and Alliances The global landscape is marked by the rivalry between BRICS nations and NATO, with a focus on US-China dynamics. Russia emphasizes its geographical ties to China while criticizing Western Europe's expansionist ambitions near its borders, including plans for military bases in Crimea. Historical shifts like Finland's pivot from neutrality are seen as indicative of deeper underlying sentiments.

Challenges in Negotiating Peace with Ukraine Negotiations with Zelensky remain stalled due to his decree prohibiting talks with Putin’s government. Russia accuses Ukraine of dictating terms unilaterally through peace formulas that exclude Russian input, undermining principles of balanced negotiations. Moscow asserts its actions align with international charters emphasizing minority rights and indivisible security but criticizes NATO's dominance contrary to agreed European security frameworks.

The question of who makes foreign policy decisions in the US remains unclear, with limited direct communication between Russian officials and key figures like Tony Blinken. A past interaction at a G20 Summit highlighted differing perspectives on de-escalation versus strategic defeat in Ukraine. Since then, meaningful dialogue has been absent, as American and European diplomats avoid engagement due to political sensitivities. This diplomatic isolation reflects broader tensions stemming from actions during transitions of power within the US government.

The United States has a historical pattern in foreign policy of creating turmoil to exploit the resulting instability. Examples include interventions in Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and Syria—leaving these regions destabilized while attempting re-entry through indirect means like UN involvement. The US often manipulates international norms selectively; for instance, endorsing Kosovo's unilateral independence without referendum but rejecting Crimea’s referenda despite international observation. This inconsistency highlights how American policies prioritize strategic interests over consistent principles.

The ongoing crisis in Syria involves complex geopolitical dynamics, with Russia, Turkey, and Iran collaborating through the Astana process to stabilize the region. Efforts focus on preventing separatist movements like Kurdish factions supported by U.S.-controlled resources from oil and grain sales. The Idlib de-escalation zone remains a critical area where terrorist groups have gained ground despite agreements for Turkish oversight to separate extremists from non-terrorist opposition forces. Discussions aim at restoring adherence to these deals while addressing issues such as reopening key routes like M5 between Damascus and Aleppo now under terrorist control.

Lavrov's Perspective on Trump and US-Russia Relations Sergey Lavrov describes Donald Trump as a strong, result-oriented individual who dislikes procrastination. Despite Trump's perceived friendliness in discussions, Lavrov emphasizes that he was not pro-Russian, citing the significant sanctions imposed during his administration. Russia respects American electoral choices and remains open to dialogue with any U.S. administration while maintaining ongoing ties in various sectors like economy and security.

Concerns Over Escalation Between Nuclear Powers Lavrov highlights concerns about escalating tensions between Russia and the United States amidst NATO’s expanding global agenda into regions like Eurasia and Indo-Pacific areas. He stresses adherence to principles of sovereign equality over dominance-based policies promoted by some Western powers under a 'rules-based world order.' While reiterating commitments against nuclear war made by major nuclear states including agreements from 2021 Geneva talks, he warns against reckless steps stemming from dangerous assumptions about limited nuclear exchanges being geographically contained.