Lavrov urges Washington to avoid steps that could escalate Ukraine war
Russian foreign minister says Trump remains committed to dialogue and a "sustainable peaceful solution," warns Europe is "sabotaging peacemaking efforts."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said he hoped the United States would refrain from taking any steps that could escalate the conflict in Ukraine, stressing that President Donald Trump had long advocated direct dialogue with Moscow.
In an interview originally given to Italy’s Corriere della Sera and later published by Russia’s state news agency TASS, Lavrov said Trump had sought to "fully understand the Russian position on Ukraine" and had "demonstrated a commitment to finding a sustainable peaceful solution."
"We are counting on common sense and that the maintaining of that position will prevail in Washington and that they will refrain from actions that could escalate the conflict to a new level," he said.
TASS reported that the Italian newspaper declined to publish the interview.
Lavrov said Trump acknowledged that one of the drivers behind Russia’s actions was NATO’s expansion and the deployment of alliance infrastructure closer to Russia’s borders.
"In essence, that is what Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia have been warning about for the last 20 years," he said.
Trump and Putin held talks in Alaska in August, and Lavrov spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 20 about a possible new summit days after Trump announced plans for one following a call with Putin.
Trump later said he had cancelled the prospective meeting.
The US president has backed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine with forces remaining in their current positions. Moscow has said Kiev must yield additional territory.
Lavrov accused European governments of undermining peace efforts.
Europe, he said, was "sabotaging all peacemaking efforts and are rejecting direct contacts with Moscow. They introduce new sanctions which boomerang on their economies even further. They're openly preparing for a new major European war against Russia"
He said Russia would be ready to resume contacts with Europe "when this Russiaphobic frenzy passes."
European leaders have accused Russia of conducting "hybrid warfare" against European democracies.
EU countries backing Ukraine recently agreed on a 19th sanctions package and are discussing additional financial support for Kiev, either through borrowing or the use of frozen Russian assets.