The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov spoke in an interview with the famous American journalist Tucker Carlson. In the conversation, Lavrov talks about his vision regarding Russia's war in Ukraine, relations with the West, and allows scenarios for the development of the international situation.
Main statements:
1. About possible peace agreements regarding Ukraine.
Key terms that Russia can agree to:
- no accession of Ukraine to NATO, no Western military bases in Ukraine, no military exercises on Ukrainian soil with the participation of foreign troops,
- "it is necessary to take into account all the realities on the ground and the fact that four new regions are part of the Russian Federation",
- public cancellation of Zelensky's decree banning negotiations with Putin,
- "Kyiv must abandon Russophobic and anti-Russian policies. Laws banning the Russian language, Russian culture, Russian mass media, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are unacceptable. This violates Ukraine's obligations under the UN Charter."
- Russia is ready to be among the countries that will provide security guarantees to Ukraine.
2. About "Oreshnyk" and the "red lines" of Russia:
- Russia does not want to worsen the situation, hopes that its signal to the USA in the form of the Oreshnyk test was taken seriously. Having tested the Oreshnyk, Russia wanted to convey to the West that it will do everything to protect its interests,
- Russia is ready to send additional "messages" to the West if they do not make the necessary conclusions in light of the Oreshnyk launch.
- statements by the West about the absence of "red lines" in Russia and their shift - "a very serious mistake",
- Moscow will be ready to use any means to prevent the West from inflicting a "strategic defeat" on Russia.
3. On relations with the USA and on nuclear war:
- The Russian Federation would like normal relations with the USA and does not see any reason why the countries cannot cooperate,
- "we are not thinking about a war with the USA, which could be of a nuclear nature. Our military doctrine shows that the most important thing is to avoid a nuclear war."
- the formula "no nuclear war" corresponds to the vital interests of Russia and the USA, there can be no winners in it,
- Russia and the USA are not officially at war, what is happening in Ukraine is a hybrid war,
- Trump is a strong person who does not like to postpone matters, he is friendly in conversation, but this does not mean that he is pro-Russian.
