MOSCOW (Realist English). Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Public Television of Russia, published on 24 April, that Western politicians are trying to return to a colonial era, and that diplomacy must be based on national interests and respect for equal partners. The foreign minister also spoke about the role of academic institutes in shaping foreign policy doctrines, his personal relationship with former US Secretary of State John Kerry, and why Russia trusts only its army and navy.
Science in support of diplomacy
Responding to a question about the anniversary of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), Lavrov stressed that cooperation between the Foreign Ministry and academic institutes is mutually beneficial. “Practical diplomacy, while greatly interested in analytical work, cannot handle this task alone,” the minister said, noting that it is scholars who can calmly analyse events without being distracted by “day-to-day routines.”
Lavrov paid special tribute to the situational analysis methods introduced by Yevgeny Primakov. These approaches, according to the minister, remain relevant today. IMEMO has actively participated in drafting every edition of Russia’s Foreign Policy Concept since 2000.
‘Red lines’ and European racism
Lavrov sharply criticised European politicians’ statements about the need to “clarify Russia’s red lines.” “It is ridiculous to say that they need to clarify our ‘red lines.’ They were laid out long ago,” the minister said. He recalled that the European Union was a party to the Minsk agreements, and that former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former French President François Hollande later admitted they “lied to buy time to pump weapons into Ukraine.”
In the foreign minister’s view, Europe’s current approach is “to a certain extent racism, which implies a dismissive attitude towards a partner.”
The art of negotiation and personal chemistry
Speaking about the negotiation process, Lavrov stressed that there is no universal rule. Success depends on the participants’ erudition, their knowledge of the partner country’s history and culture. The minister noted a difference in approaches: Russian diplomacy immerses a specialist deeply in a region for five years, while American colleagues change portfolios every two to three years.
Lavrov spoke about his productive personal relationship with former US Secretary of State John Kerry, with whom he worked on the Syrian chemical dossier and the Ukrainian crisis. In April 2014, an agreement on the federalisation of Ukraine was reached in Geneva, but “the Ukrainian Nazis who seized power flatly rejected this practically agreed-upon text.”
History repeats itself as farce?
Asked about the nature of the current global crisis, Lavrov said history develops in a spiral. “The current situation is serious, far from a farce,” he said, noting that the United States has officially proclaimed the principle of “might is right.” According to the minister, the Americans “openly declare that they answer to no one” and care only about their own well-being, using coups, kidnappings and killings to gain access to natural resources.
Lavrov cited the example of Hungary and Slovakia, which Europe is ordering to buy expensive energy instead of cheap Russian supplies. “This is an attempt to return to the colonial era,” he concluded.
Russia’s two allies
Concluding the interview, the minister recalled the well‑known formula: “Russia has only two allies — its army and navy.” Today, the Aerospace Forces and drone units have been added to them. “The main conclusion from our thousand‑year history: trust in God, but don’t make mistakes yourself,” Lavrov said, adding that “the weak get beaten, you need to be strong.”
In the foreign minister’s view, Russia possesses colossal natural and scientific potential, and the task of diplomacy is to create conditions for technological leadership, including in the field of artificial intelligence.