Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Sunday that Western Europe has effectively removed itself from the negotiations over the Ukraine crisis, blaming European actions for undermining past peace efforts, Reuters reported. Speaking to Russian journalist Pavel Zerubin, Lavrov argued that Europe long ago “used up its chances” to influence a settlement, citing events dating back to the 2014 Maidan protests that led to the ousting of Ukraine’s elected president.
Lavrov pointed to the failed February 2014 agreement between then-President Viktor Yanukovych and the opposition, which Europe had guaranteed but allegedly did not enforce, and the Istanbul agreements of April 2022, which he claimed were derailed at the behest of the UK and with Europe’s full acquiescence. He also referenced admissions by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and ex-French President François Hollande that the Minsk agreements for Donbass were never intended to be fully implemented.
The remarks come as European leaders have insisted that any potential peace deal on Ukraine include the EU in the process, particularly after the U.S. floated proposals reportedly asking Kiev to abandon NATO aspirations and cap the size of its army. Germany, France, and the UK have reportedly drafted a version of the plan that softens several points to make it more favorable to Ukraine, which Russia has already deemed “completely unconstructive.”
Lavrov also defended Russian arms exports, claiming the West is attempting to penalize Moscow because its weaponry is perceived as reliable and effective. Speaking to the TV program Military Acceptance, he argued that sanctions targeting the Russian defense sector are part of an anti-competitive effort by Western countries. He said that many non-Western nations continue to trade with Russia, finding alternative financial, banking, and logistics solutions.
Highlighting the global reputation of Russian weapons, Lavrov cited examples in South Africa and Brazil where local elites openly supported Russian technology and heritage. He praised Soviet and Russian arms as symbols of quality and security, noting the historical role of Soviet weapons, such as the Kalashnikov rifle, in supporting decolonization efforts across Africa.
“Already in the 20th and 21st centuries Soviet and later Russian arms became a symbol of quality that the competition could never attain,” Lavrov said. He emphasized that Russia has maintained competitiveness in advanced military technologies and positions its weaponry as a global deterrent beyond nuclear capabilities.
Lavrov’s comments underscore Moscow’s view that Western countries have forfeited credibility in Ukraine peace negotiations while simultaneously framing Russian defense exports as a key instrument of international influence and security assurance.
