Russia rejects NATO troops on Ukraine, Lavrov says
5 Min Read
The Russian foreign minister discusses a variety of pressing global issues, including the Ukrainian crisis, US-Russia-China nuclear arms talks, Russia’s relations with China, and the Iranian nuclear deal.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends a joint news conference with OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu after their talks in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP)
Russia knows how to avoid compromising on the Ukrainian crisis in a way that would endanger people's lives, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized on Wednesday.
"On this particular crisis, we know what must be done and that we would not compromise the way which would compromise the fate of the people. It’s not about the territories, it’s about the people who were deprived of their history by law," Lavrov said.
In an interview with US bloggers Andrew Napolitano, Larry Johnson, and Mario Nawfal, the top Russian diplomat asserted that his country's primary focus is to protect those whom Kiev has deprived of their history and those in Western countries who doubt Moscow’s stance may continue to be mistaken.
The top Russian official suggested that had Ukraine cooperated with Russia and followed its own initiatives, the country would have remained within its 1991 borders, excluding Crimea and parts of Donbass. "Had they been cooperative and had they delivered on their own initiative, they would still have 1991 borders, minus Crimea, minus some part of Donbas. Every time they cheat, they lose. And the process continues," Lavrov stated.
Lavrov also accused Europe and the UK of intensifying the Ukraine conflict, seeking to raise the stakes and pressuring Washington for more aggressive action against Russia. "Europe and the UK certainly want this to continue. The way they received [Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy] in London after the scandal in Washington, it’s an indication that they want to raise the stakes and they are preparing something to pressure the Donald Trump administration back into some aggressive action against Russia," Lavrov noted.
In a similar vein, Konstantin Kosachev, Vice Chairman of the Russian Federation Council, emphasized on Wednesday that any future agreements regarding Ukraine will be determined by Russia's conditions, not those of the United States.
Kosachev took to Telegram to remark: "The outcomes of the American-Ukrainian talks in Jeddah point to a single truth: the farce of (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky acting as a subordinate to (US President Donald) Trump, unlike the situation with (former US President Joe) Biden, which was an utter failure."
He further explained, "The terms of the negotiations are dictated by the US, not Ukraine. The Ukrainians are merely accepting what is imposed upon them. Zelensky is in a defensive position, or as a US State Department representative aptly put it: 'Trump put Zelensky in his place.'"
Kosachev also underscored Russia's continued advances, adding, "As such, any agreements will be based on our terms, not those of the United States. This is not arrogance, but an undeniable reality that proves real agreements are forged on the front lines. Washington needs to grasp this fundamental truth as well."
NATO troops in Ukraine a threat to Russia
Regarding NATO's potential presence in Ukraine, Lavrov declared that Moscow will not accept any NATO troops on Ukrainian soil under any conditions.
"The presence of NATO states' troops on the Ukrainian territory under any flag, in any capacity, including peacekeepers, is a threat to Russia, and we will not accept this under any circumstances," he said.
Read more: Role of US envoy for Ukraine Kellogg 'very much in question': Politico
Lavrov also commented on the potential for US-Russia-China nuclear arms discussions.
"President Trump is already saying about a meeting ‘at three’: US, China, Russia. He mentioned that he would like to discuss nuclear weapons, security issues. We would be open to any format which is based on mutual respect, on equality, no prejudged solutions," he stated.
The Russian official emphasized that any talks would require equal respect among the parties, but also noted that this format doesn’t diminish the importance of ongoing Russia-US strategic stability talks.
On the Iranian nuclear deal, Lavrov expressed Russia’s support for resuming negotiations in a UN Security Council-approved format, which would include Russia, the US, China, France, Germany, the UK, and Iran.
"We are in favor of restoring the original program from which the Americans dropped during the first Trump government," he stated.
The top Russian official also voiced concerns about the potential for new political conditions tied to any renewed deal.
"I don’t think it’s realistic," he concluded.
Russia’s unwavering commitment to China
When addressing Russia-China relations in particular, Lavrov reassured that Russia would never violate its political and legal commitments to China. "The Americans know that we would not betray our commitments, legal commitments, but also, you know, the political commitments which we develop with the Chinese," he remarked.
Furthermore, Lavrov acknowledged that while Russia and China face some difficulties, especially due to sanctions, their long-term relationship remains strong, with mutual respect and understanding between the two countries.
He explained, however, that the interests of Russia and the United States will never fully align. "It is very well understood they told us that countries like the United States and Russia would never have their national interest the same. They would not coincide maybe even 50 or less percent," he said.
