diplomacy
Lavrov does not expect a new Russia policy under Trump
Instead of Kremlin chief Putin, Moscow’s Foreign Minister Lavrov is traveling to the G20 summit in Brazil. Shortly before the meeting, he commented on Moscow’s expectations after the US presidential election.
Moscow’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov does not expect a change in US policy towards Russia or Ukraine under President-elect Donald Trump. Every US government has an interest in weakening Russia. “They are comfortable if they weaken Russia and its influence,” Lavrov told Russian state television in an interview. Russia repeatedly accuses the USA of supporting the war in Ukraine primarily to weaken Moscow.
“Ultimately, everything that is happening is due to the desire to displace Russia as a competitor,” Lavrov said. Washington will continue to strive to keep everything under its control, said Lavrov, who will represent Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin next week at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro and will also meet US representatives.
During his election campaign, Trump declared that he would end the war in Ukraine through a deal with Russia. He didn’t give any details. Putin congratulated Trump on his election victory last week and said he was open to dialogue. At the same time, he emphasized that Trump is unpredictable and it therefore remains to be seen what actions will follow the announcements.
Lavrov against freezing the conflict
Lavrov, meanwhile, warned against resuming the Minsk agreements to resolve the conflict. The agreements concluded in 2014 and 2015 with the mediation of Germany and France had, among other things, provided for autonomy for the Donbass. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later rejected the Minsk agreements as a solution.
Against this background, Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022 to forestall what Moscow claimed was an attempt by the Kiev military to regain control of the regions in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
Lavrov refused to freeze the conflict; This is the Minsk Agreement in a new but worse package, he said. The outbreak of violence in eastern Ukraine came about because the leadership in Kiev refused to talk about autonomy for Donbass and rights for the Russian-speaking population after the violent coup in 2014. Lavrov said that according to the Minsk agreements, Donbass should have remained part of Ukraine. Russian troops now occupy large parts of the area.
dpa
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
