Sergey Lavrov on Trump's Ukraine Comments and US-Russia Diplomacy

Trump's Stance on Ukraine

• 🇺🇸 President Trump's statement that Ukraine can reclaim all its territory is noted.
• 💬 Sergey Lavrov was asked about these comments during a press conference.

US-Russia Dialogue and National Interests

• 🤝 Lavrov expresses appreciation for the Trump administration's willingness to resume dialogue with Russia, contrasting it with the Biden administration's approach.
• 🇷🇺 He highlights that Russia acknowledges the existence of national interests for all states, including the US and Russia.
• 💡 The philosophy is that when interests align, it is wise to pursue mutually beneficial projects in areas like energy or space.

Managing Divergent Interests

• ⚠️ When Russian and US interests do not align, the primary goal is to prevent escalation into confrontation or conflict.
• 🗣️ Lavrov acknowledges that diplomatic statements can vary based on the specific moment and context.
• 🇺🇸 He perceives no deviation from the US's course toward an open and honest dialogue with Russia, as well as with China and other nations.

The Nature of Diplomacy

• ⚖️ Diplomacy is described as the process of reconciling and ordering conflicting interests to avoid confrontation.
• 🚫 Lavrov criticizes European nations for turning diplomacy into either appeasement of Washington or a substitute for sanctions, deeming this approach unproductive.
• ✅ He reiterates that an honest dialogue on all issues is valued, and the US shows readiness for this.