Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's comments for media members following Government Hour at the State Duma, Moscow, February 19, 2025
19 February 2025 17:55
257-19-02-2025
Colleagues,
The latest Government Hour was dedicated to a report about the Foreign Ministry's performance. Prior to it, we met, on February 6, with heads of the related committees to discuss preparations and prospects for interaction on the foreign policy front.
The feedback we received about the Ministry's work is flattering. We are thankful for high assessments of our efforts. They will encourage us to work even harder on this track. There's as much work to do as ever, but we are better at it when we work as one with our colleagues from the parliament, meaning that parliamentary - public - diplomacy is crucial.
We confirmed our focus on advancing the objectives set out in the Foreign Policy Concept approved by the President almost two years ago, which reflects the current realities and the objective, historical and inexorable trend towards creating a multipolar world order. I covered these matters in my speech which was livestreamed, and you may have heard me deliver it and take questions afterwards. I am ready to respond if you have any questions or need me to clarify things.
Question: You have mentioned a certain mindset in Europe. As we know from the statement made by President Trump, Washington and Kiev are now on increasingly diverging paths.
What's your take on President Trump's remark that Ukraine must hold elections? Was mentioning Zelensky's low approval rating a gesture to let Moscow know that talks will continue? Or, is it an objective and weighed position?
Sergey Lavrov: I have no grounds to believe that President Trump is doing anything to please anyone. This is out of the question. He is an absolutely independent politician. Among other things, he is a straight shooter. Usually, such people tend to not hide their opinions about pathetic individuals like Zelensky.
With regard to US-EU relations, the United States has nothing against Europe. They want the Brussels bureaucracy to stop telling Europe what to do and demanding that every EU member follows the "party line." Instead, every EU member state must be able to uphold and represent their national interests to the fullest extent.
Yesterday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the fact that the United States sees international relations as a skill to manage national interests. He made an important point. Converging national interests must be converted into mutually beneficial, tangible, and other projects. However, in most cases, the national interests of two countries, especially major power, do not overlap. If this is the case, my counterpart emphasised, it is important to do everything possible to prevent these misalignments from sliding into confrontation that would send the whole world rocking. I fully subscribe to this point of view.
The problem of the European Union is that Brussels bureaucracy is formed via behind-the-scenes arrangements and no elections are ever held. It reproduces itself and is guided by its own bureaucratic interests which are at odds with the stance and national interests of many member countries.
Question: In Saudi Arabia, you spoke about normalising diplomatic relations. Did you discuss restitution of our diplomatic property in Washington D.C.?
Sergey Lavrov: We did not discuss normalisation of diplomatic relations. They are in place. We talked about removing artificial obstacles that compound daily operations of our respective embassies and consulates general. These obstacles include financing, attempts to restrict movement or to limit the number of diplomats a country wants to send to another country, or the length of stay of the diplomats. These matters are not regulated by international conventions on diplomatic relations.
We gave our dialogue partners a list of issues that need to be addressed in order to ensure normal functioning of our respective diplomatic missions. This list includes property-related issues that you mentioned.
Question: If the United States lifts sanctions on our country, how soon, do you think, Europe will have to do the same?
Sergey Lavrov: I'm not going to discuss this. These sanctions undermine more than just international law. They thwart international cooperation and economic and financial interests of the countries that impose such restrictions.
Speaking of it in terms of US-EU relations, the EU recently said that even if the United States were to lift the sanctions, the EU will only increase them. It is a recurring ego trip and a belief that you are always right, even if you go back to the ways of your colonial past and continue colonial policies in a manner that is even tougher than it was back then.
Question: Are relations with Europe expected to be different now that they are left sitting at a "children's table?"
Sergey Lavrov: We are not going to chase anyone. We have done nothing to freeze and, in fact, in many ways dismantle our relations with the West, including Europe.
We are following our own path and addressing our own issues in conjunction with our parliamentarians and our people. These issues include ending the special military operation on our terms, and making sure that our economy and our entire system function in a way that it does not depend in any way on the whims of our Western or any other partners. This is our objective, and we will do our best to fulfil it.
If, over time, our Western colleagues come to their senses and decide to resume relations, we will have to review the terms on which it can be done. However, it's up to them. We are not even thinking about it now. We are busy fortifying our state in the best interests of our people.
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