Russia: Ready to resume dialogue with Europe, will not return to previous pattern of rapprochement
Moscow, September 16 (KUNA) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed on Wednesday that his country is ready to listen to any European state wishing to resume dialogue with it, but stressed that Russia will not return to the pattern of rapprochement with Europe that prevailed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Russian Foreign Ministry quoted Lavrov as saying during a session titled “The New Architecture of Peace” at the World Youth Festival in Yekaterinburg that Russia does not seek confrontation with the West, and that it will listen to any European country interested in resuming dialogue.
Lavrov criticized NATO’s “advance” toward Russian borders, but affirmed that Russia will not attack Europe, adding that “the war would be short if Europe were to attack Russia.”
On Russian-American relations, Lavrov said Moscow appreciated the entry of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration into dialogue with Russia immediately upon taking office, “unlike the Europeans,” noting that the United States has proposed resuming bilateral dialogue while Russia maintains separate channels of communication. He added that dialogue with the Trump administration had not led to tangible changes in key areas of bilateral relations, considering that the dialogue had been delayed for too long.
On the Ukrainian file, Lavrov affirmed Russia’s readiness to conduct bilateral and trilateral negotiations, noting that Moscow would await proposals for new talks. He stressed that, from Moscow’s perspective, a settlement requires achieving the objectives set at the outset of the “military operation” in Ukraine and addressing what it described as the “root causes.”
Regarding the possibility of Serbia serving as a platform for negotiations on Ukraine, he said, “Anything acceptable to the parties concerned is possible.”
On the BRICS group and the reform of international institutions, Lavrov said, “Russia supports the nomination of India and Brazil for permanent membership in the UN Security Council, and Africans must be given representation, while Moscow opposes any candidates backed by the West from obtaining permanent membership on the Council.”
On Armenia, Lavrov said, “Russia cannot oppose the Armenian people’s choice to join Europe,” but questioned “whether such a choice even exists.” (End) Dan / T.M.A
