Lavrov Praises Trump’s Ukraine Stance, Criticizes Europe for Prolonging War
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!MOSCOW — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday (March 2) praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s “common sense” approach to ending the war in Ukraine, while accusing European powers of working to extend the conflict.
In an interview with the Russian military newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda, Lavrov described Trump as a pragmatist and suggested that his Make America Great Again (MAGA) ideology reflected a shift toward a different approach in global politics. However, he also acknowledged that Washington and Moscow would never fully align, stating that the U.S. still aims to be the world’s dominant power.
“Donald Trump is a pragmatist,” Lavrov said, according to a transcript released by the Russian Foreign Ministry. “His slogan is common sense. It means, as everyone can see, a shift to a different way of doing things.”
Lavrov also suggested that the U.S.-China relationship could serve as a model for how Russia and the U.S. should engage, emphasizing the need for pragmatism and cooperation in areas of mutual interest without allowing disagreements to escalate into conflict.
Russia’s View on Ukraine and the West
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, escalating tensions with the West to levels unseen since the Cold War. The conflict, which has roots in the 2014 annexation of Crimea and clashes between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region, remains one of the most significant geopolitical crises of the 21st century.
The West and Ukraine have condemned Russia’s invasion as an imperialist land grab, while President Vladimir Putin has framed it as part of a broader struggle against Western influence. Putin claims that NATO’s expansion and Western policies have humiliated Russia since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, encroaching on Moscow’s sphere of influence.
Lavrov reiterated these views, blaming Europe for exacerbating global conflicts over the past 500 years. “Europe has been the crucible of all the tragedies of the world,” he said, citing colonization, global wars, and historical figures like Napoleon and Hitler.
Trump’s Role in Potential Peace Talks
Trump, who spoke to Putin on Feb. 12, has signaled a shift in U.S. policy on Ukraine, arguing that the war could escalate into World War III. He has positioned himself as a peace broker, claiming he could negotiate an end to the conflict. Lavrov confirmed that the call with Putin was initiated by Trump.
The former U.S. president’s stance has created tensions with European allies and Ukrainian leadership. Last week, he and Vice President JD Vance clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. Trump reportedly accused Zelensky of showing disrespect to the U.S., arguing that Ukraine was losing the war and had no bargaining power left.
Europe’s Role and the Minsk Agreements
Lavrov dismissed European proposals to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine, arguing that such plans would not address the root causes of the conflict. He also criticized Europe for supporting Zelensky’s government, suggesting that European powers are more interested in prolonging the war than seeking a resolution.
“Now they also want to prop him up with their bayonets in the form of peacekeeping units. This will mean that the root causes will not disappear,” Lavrov said.
The Kremlin has frequently pointed to the failure of the Minsk agreements—peace deals brokered in 2014 and 2015 aimed at resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine—as evidence of Ukraine’s unwillingness to negotiate in good faith. Lavrov reiterated this point, arguing that Russia has no trust in Kyiv’s intentions.
Geopolitical Shifts in the Ukraine Conflict
As discussions on Ukraine’s future continue, Russia appears to be positioning itself for negotiations with a potential Trump administration while reinforcing its stance against European involvement. With Trump’s statements challenging the current U.S. approach, geopolitical dynamics surrounding the Ukraine war may shift dramatically in the coming months.
