Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Photo: REUTERS
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov gave an interview to TASS. In it, he summed up the results of the outgoing year, assessing the situation in Ukraine, Europe and the New World.
KP.RU quotes the most important statements of the minister.
On the goals of the West
It is no longer a secret to anyone that the strategic goal of the United States and its NATO allies is “victory over Russia on the battlefield” as a mechanism to significantly weaken or even destroy our country. For the sake of achieving this goal, our opponents are ready for a lot.
On the role of the US
The main beneficiary of the “hot conflict” is the United States, which seeks to get the most out of it both in economic and strategic-military terms. At the same time, Washington is also solving an important geopolitical task – to break the traditional ties between Russia and Europe and to further subjugate European satellites.
About the risks
We do not stop warning our enemies in the West about the danger of their course to escalate the Ukraine crisis. With the contingent they raised in Kyiv, the risk of an uncontrolled development of the situation remains very high. It is important to prevent disasters.
About the conflict in Ukraine
As for the duration of the conflict, the ball is in the court [киевского] regime and Washington behind it. They can stop the mindless resistance at any time. Our proposals for the demilitarization and denazification of the territories controlled by the regime, the elimination of threats to the security of Russia emanating from there, including our new lands, the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, are well known to the enemy. The point is small: fulfill them in the best possible way. Otherwise, the problem will be decided by the Russian army.
On the nuclear threat
We note with deep concern the propaganda bacchanalia in the United States and in the West in general around the issue of nuclear weapons. On the one hand, there is irresponsible speculation that Russia is about to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine. There are links to some statements of the Russian political leadership. But in reality there were no such statements. We are talking about something completely different: the Western policy of total containment of our country is extremely dangerous. It risks slipping into a direct armed clash between the nuclear powers.
About the attacks on Russia
Volodymyr Zelensky has reached an agreement to demand pre-emptive nuclear strikes from NATO countries against Russia. This also goes beyond the limits of what is acceptable. However, we do not hear such things from the regime leaders.
About European “partners”
Thank God, the world does not converge like a wedge into the European Union for us, we have many friends and like-minded people in other parts of the world. If there comes a bitter hangover from the current Russophobic rage on the European side, and then a recovery of sobriety, if there are various nationally oriented politicians who understand the advantages of an equal and mutually beneficial partnership with Russia, I assure you that there will be no problems on our part. We are realistic. Let us continue to work with those few Europeans who value friendship with Russia. We will not cooperate with Russophobes.
On Russian-American relations
In fact, Russian-American relations are in an extremely deplorable state. Virtually frozen because of Washington. The anti-Russian confrontational course followed by him is becoming sharper and more comprehensive. It is objectively impossible to maintain normal communication with the Biden administration, which declares as its goal to inflict a strategic defeat on our country.
Given the special responsibility of Russia and the United States as two nuclear superpowers for the fate of humanity, I proceed from the premise that normal relations between our countries would benefit all. However, given Washington’s openly hostile actions, business as usual is not possible.
