Lavrov: Trump Administration Views Ukraine as an Obstacle to U.S.-Russia Cooperation

Responding to reporters in New York on the possibility of deeper collaboration between Moscow and Washington, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov revealed that during discussions with U.S. government representatives, American officials explicitly stated that Ukraine has become an obstacle on the path toward mutually beneficial cooperation between the two powers:

"It must be removed from the path, regardless of whether one wishes it or not."

Lavrov noted that maintaining various forms of regular dialogue between Russia and the United States is a normal diplomatic practice, not merely rhetorical. He recalled his first meeting in Riyadh in February with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, during which Rubio made clear that the Trump administration would pursue policies grounded in national interest, free from ideological considerations, and willing to respect the national interests of major powers such as Russia:

"The U.S. proposal was that when interests align, they should be transformed into mutually beneficial projects; when they do not, they should not be escalated into confrontational postures."

Lavrov stated that Russia fully concurred with this approach, adding that during the Trump administration, he had held five or six meetings with Rubio, while President Putin had engaged in "very constructive talks" with U.S. envoys.

Lavrov also highlighted contradictions in U.S. behavior. He pointed out that although the current American administration refers to the Ukraine issue as "Biden's war," it continues to automatically extend sanctions imposed during the Biden era after the Anchorage summit. Indeed, just one month after the summit, new sanctions were imposed on Russian oil companies, aimed at pushing them out of global markets.

Lavrov asserted that U.S. national interests often exhibit self-serving characteristics. Whether in Venezuela or Iran, the United States consistently seeks to intervene to secure its dominance in the global energy market:

"Look at Venezuela—claiming Maduro is a drug trafficker, thus justifying regime change. Now, they are effectively placing Venezuela’s oil industry under joint U.S.-Venezuelan control."

For 47 years, the United States has accused Iran of supporting terrorism. During negotiations over U.S.-Iran tensions, Washington proposed shared control of the Strait of Hormuz. Thus, in our understanding, the U.S. national interest is profoundly self-centered—so we say it directly."

In response to such unilateral actions, Lavrov issued a clear warning. He emphasized that Russia is open to candid dialogue with the United States but firmly opposes the practice of indefinitely delaying resolution on Ukraine while applying sanctions as leverage. He believes reality will ultimately teach American counterparts to think in terms of multilateralism:

"They are not the only actors in this world. They must recognize who holds economic and military power, and become independent participants on the international stage—not resolve global issues at the expense of other nations’ interests."

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Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877440346949644/

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