Monday, February 17, 2025

Top 5 This Week

Related Posts

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Discusses Strategic Stability, Ukraine, and Relations with the West

In a recent interview with Rossiya Segodnya on December 29, 2024, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov provided detailed insights into Russia’s stance on arms control, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the future of its relationship with Western nations.

Lavrov began by addressing the future of the New START agreement, which is set to expire in February 2026. He emphasized that while Russia would continue to adhere to the treaty’s quantitative limits on strategic weapons, the US’s aggressive policies had severely undermined strategic stability. Lavrov reiterated that Russia would not engage in arms control discussions with the US unless the current anti-Russian stance was altered. He added that Russia would not abandon its moratorium on the deployment of intermediate- and shorter-range missiles unless the US continued its provocative actions, such as deploying these weapons globally. Recently, Russia demonstrated its capabilities with a successful test of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile.

Turning to the ongoing Ukraine crisis, Lavrov stated that both the outgoing and incoming US administrations held significant leverage to end the conflict but emphasized that this leverage must be used to pressure Kiev to cease hostilities and resume peace talks. He reiterated Russia’s position on Ukraine, which includes the demilitarization and denazification of the country, ensuring its neutral status, and addressing the rights of Russian-speaking citizens. Lavrov dismissed the idea of a ceasefire or truce as a tactic to buy time for Ukraine’s military to regroup, calling it a “dead-end” approach.

When asked about Russia’s growing strategic partnership with Iran, Lavrov explained that the updated Agreement on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which formalizes the strong bilateral ties between the two countries, was already comprehensive and did not require adjustments. This agreement, he noted, solidifies cooperation in defense and counterterrorism efforts, among other strategic areas. Lavrov highlighted the international significance of the agreement, particularly in ensuring regional peace and security.

In response to Denmark’s decision to send a second batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Lavrov condemned the move, calling it a direct escalation in the conflict. He warned that the provision of military assistance to Ukraine, particularly by NATO members, would result in Russia taking necessary countermeasures to secure its national security. Lavrov pointed out that these military supplies, including aircraft and maintenance efforts, made Denmark a legitimate target for Russian military action.

Addressing Russia’s military presence in Syria, Lavrov clarified that the terms of Russia’s military base deployments in Syria were governed by international treaties. With the Syrian government undergoing a period of transition, he noted that any adjustments to Russia’s military presence would depend on negotiations with the new leadership, which is set to conclude its transitional period by March 1, 2025.

Lastly, Lavrov addressed the potential for discussions with NATO and the United States regarding intermediate- and shorter-range missiles. While acknowledging NATO’s irrational decision-making, he reaffirmed that Russia would respond to any new missile threats with strong military and technical measures. He reiterated that meaningful arms control discussions could only take place as part of a broader dialogue addressing the root causes of security concerns, particularly NATO’s eastward expansion.

As Lavrov concluded, he urged that discussions on these matters be reserved for future developments, particularly after 2025, when much could change in the geopolitical landscape.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Popular Articles