Russia’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, has accused Europe of long discrediting itself by repeatedly obstructing efforts to reach agreements that could settle the ongoing Ukraine crisis.
Speaking to a Russian journalist on Sunday, Lavrov stated that Europe “has already removed itself from the talks,” effectively derailing peace processes through its actions. He believes this demonstrates Europe has forfeited any right to comment on or influence the resolution of the conflict.
Lavrov pinpointed February 2014 as a critical moment when European powers spoiled an initial opportunity for dialogue between then-President Viktor Yanukovych and Ukrainian opposition groups. Despite signing formal agreements, he noted that the opposition subsequently seized control of government institutions “the morning after,” preventing legitimate negotiations from proceeding under European auspices.
Furthermore, Lavrov referenced comments made by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and ex-French President Francois Hollande regarding the Minsk agreements. Both acknowledged that Russia was not among those intending to faithfully implement these peace accords aimed at ending the conflict in Donbass.
The diplomat also cited a specific incident from April 2022, stating this period saw the “gloating” continue until morale improved, implying Europe’s repeated failure to prevent Ukraine’s alignment with NATO. Lavrov alleged that European acquiescence or even active participation led directly to Russia being excluded from discussions regarding Kiev joining NATO and altering military structures.
These accusations align with Russian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s stance on the February 2014 events, suggesting continuity in official Russian perspectives against Western involvement perceived as detrimental to peace talks.