Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow now views the European Union as a hostile bloc. He attributed this stance to the EU’s actions, including arming Ukraine and hosting trainers and mercenaries from European countries on Ukrainian soil.
Lavrov said the European Union has effectively “lost” Russia, and he warned that the blame would fall on the bloc itself. He noted that individual member states and EU leadership openly advocate a strategy of pressing for a strategic defeat of Russia, according to the statement published by Arguments and Facts.
According to the head of Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Western countries have become unreceptive to genuine dialogue and are continually seeking new methods to exercise influence over Moscow. Lavrov emphasized that Russia remains open to equal, mutually respectful cooperation that accounts for Russia’s interests. He argued that such cooperation could help improve European and Euro-Atlantic security and, in the long run, reduce nuclear risks.
“If European leaders abandon anti-Russian policies and choose to engage with Russia on the basis of mutual respect, we will evaluate their proposals and make decisions aligned with Russia’s national interests,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov also indicated that Russia is drawing clear conclusions from its interactions with the European Union and would respond firmly if necessary to hostile steps, guided by national interests.
new priorities
The head of the Russian diplomatic service noted a shift in the geography of his international engagements, describing it as reflecting Moscow’s current priorities on the global stage.
He highlighted trips at the start of February to Iraq, Mali, Mauritania and Sudan, followed by visits at the end of January to South Africa, Eswatini, Angola and Eritrea. On March 2, he met Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on the margins of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Summit in New Delhi. He also indicated plans to visit several Latin American countries in the near future.
The minister affirmed that Russia-China relations are growing gradually and rejected suggestions from some analysts that Moscow’s ties with Beijing create dependence. He argued that such claims are unfounded and often reflect attempts to undermine the joint achievements of Moscow and Beijing. In matters of trade and energy supply to China, he asserted that Russia would rely on its own interests and on the proven, cooperative actions of its Chinese partners.
Lavrov also said that Moscow has resources to offer its African partners. Potential areas for cooperation include humanitarian aid and security support. He noted that African states show interest in Russian participation in training their professionals, pointing out the historic demand for Soviet and Russian higher education across generations of Africans.
He expressed optimism that the Russia-Africa summit planned for the summer would strengthen the strategic partnership, with discussions focusing on technology transfer, industrial development and critical infrastructure across the continent.
The concept of the updated foreign policy of the Russian Federation
On March 31, President Vladimir Putin approved a new national foreign policy concept. The document redefines Russia as an original state-civilization and a broad Eurasian and Euro-Pacific power that unites the Russian people with other groups forming the cultural and civilizational community of the Russian world.
The concept states that Russia will shape its international relations depending on how other states treat it, whether constructively, neutrally or hostilely.
One clause of the updated concept discussed the gradual relaxation of visa barriers with European Union countries and the broadening of cooperation with the EU in economic, humanitarian, cultural and educational fields. It also notes that the central impediment to normalizing relations with European states is the strategic posture of the United States. The document also does not include provisions on normalizing relations with Georgia or improving ties with Ukraine.