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Russian FM Lavrov: “Russia Has No Allies on the Battlefield”
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In a rare admission, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov acknowledged that Russia is currently fighting the war in Ukraine without any allies, a situation the country has never faced before in its history. Speaking at the “Territory of Meaning” forum on July 28, Lavrov described Russia’s current international position as one of isolation, The Moscow Times reports.
“Russia is fighting alone against the entire West,” Lavrov said.
“In World War I and World War II, we had allies. Now, we have no allies on the battlefield. Therefore, we must rely on ourselves. We cannot afford weakness or any kind of laxity,” he added.
The comments from Lavrov are significant, as they highlight the increasing isolation of Russia as it continues It’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The minister went on to state that Europe, historically a key trade partner of Russia, had become “ferocious” in its opposition, while the United States had “lost respect” for Moscow—something not even seen during the Cold War.
“During the Cold War, dialogue never stopped between the USSR and the US, and what is very important to note is that there was mutual respect. Now, that respect is gone,” Lavrov remarked.
Lavrov further emphasized that Russia would continue to pursue what it considers its “legitimate security demands,” which include Ukraine’s non-alignment with NATO, a halt to NATO’s eastward expansion, and the recognition of territorial realities—essentially, Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories. These, according to Lavrov, are non-negotiable conditions for any potential peace settlement.
While Lavrov expressed frustration with the West’s stance, he also pointed to the possibility of dialogue.
“Russia is open to talks with Western countries,” he said, noting the interactions between Russian leader Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron. However, Lavrov complained that such discussions were fruitless, as Macron’s public statements “contradicted the private conversations they had.” He accused the West of pushing Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, which Russia had refused to entertain.
Lavrov also took a moment to address the stance of former US President Donald Trump, who had previously suggested a deal with Russia that included sanctions relief and recognition of Crimea’s annexation.
Lavrov called Trump a “pragmatist” and acknowledged that, unlike President Joe Biden and current European leaders, Trump was more open to dialogue.
“President Trump does not want any wars, and he is open to discussions, unlike his predecessor, Mr. Biden, and the current European elites like Ursula von der Leyen, Keir Starmer, and Macron,” he remarked.
Lavrov’s comments, while suggesting an openness to dialogue, are contrasting with continued Russian military escalations in Ukraine, including daily assaults against Ukraine, as well as drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.
As a result, it was previously reported that US President Donald Trump is losing patience with Russia over its lack of progress in negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
