Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in his remarks and answer to questions during the ambassadorial roundtable discussion in Moscow on June 23, made clear that European countries are, in essence, “demanding that Russia surrender,” while continuously re-evaluating the United States at the same time. He raised the prospect that America may be “abandoning its role as an objective mediator” in the Russia-Ukraine peace process.
Lavrov asserted that, “In general, Europe continues its all-too-familiar game of the ‘bad cop and not-so-bad cop.’ This changes nothing in substance. Put plainly, everything we hear today from Brussels, London, Paris, Berlin, and other European capitals amounts to a demand for Moscow to surrender. That is what the statement issued by President Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer following their get-together with Zelensky in London on June 7 is all about.”
He noted, “The statement issued at the G7 summit in Evian [June 15-17] once again talks about unconditional support for the Kiev regime, assistance in strengthening Kiev’s military capability, expanding supplies of Western weapons, and ratcheting up the sanctions pressure on our country’s economy. Words such as ‘peace’ or ‘settlement’ didn’t make it to the statement.” Russia’s Foreign Affairs Minister maintained that “Europe is placing bets on the Zelensky regime’s openly terrorist tactics,” which includes Ukraine’s targeting of civilian targets such as medical facilities, blocks of flats, student dormitories, and even children. He added, “The real goal of the West behind its calls for talks is to save the Zelensky regime and to preserve Ukraine as a launching pad for fighting Russia. That is why they are seeking an immediate ceasefire.”
