Lavrov: If Russia Returns to Work with West, It Will Be Carried Out on New Principles
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – If and when Russia returns to joint work with the West, it will be conducted on new principles as the old approaches no longer work, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
"One of the lessons is that if and when we return to joint work, then it will have to be conducted on a new basis, as the old approaches no longer work," Lavrov said in an interview with Sputnik.
After the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, the West stepped up sanctions pressure on Russia, which led to an increase in prices for electricity, fuel and food in Europe and the United States.
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier said the policy to contain and weaken Russia is a long-term strategy for the West, and sanctions have dealt a severe blow to the entire global economy. According to him, the main goal of the West is to make the lives of millions of people worse. Russia has repeatedly said it will solve the problems the West creates for it.
The Russian foreign minister further said during the interview that the current Ukrainian politicians are unable to negotiate, leaving talks at an impasse.
"The current set of Ukrainian politicians are well known to everyone for their inability to negotiate," Lavrov said. "Most of them are outright Russophobes."
Moscow has repeatedly indicated that it is ready for talks, but Kiev has imposed a ban on them at the legislative level.
“It is obvious that Kiev is not ready for dialogue. Putting forward all sorts of ideas and 'formulas of peace'"