Kremlin pushes for US cooperation on its terms – ISW
Photo: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (Getty Images)
The Russian authorities are attempting to influence US foreign policy to ensure Washington engages on terms favorable to Moscow. At the same time, the US is expected not to compromise on any of the Kremlin's objectives in Ukraine or globally, according to a report from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
In an interview published on December 5, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the Kremlin seeks "normal" relations with the United States and reiterated longstanding Kremlin rhetoric, attempting to blame the US and NATO for undermining relations with Russia.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that Lavrov's remarks closely aligned with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's statements on November 7, which also called for a reset in US-Russia relations on Moscow’s terms.
Lavrov further asserted that the Kremlin remains unwilling to negotiate on any terms other than its own. He falsely claimed that Russia aims to end the war in Ukraine based on the UN Charter.
ISW highlighted that this claim comes despite Moscow’s continued violations of the UN Charter by waging its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, infringing on Ukrainian sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Russia’s previous agreements with Ukraine.
At the same time, Lavrov dismissed any notion of withdrawing Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian territories and falsely stated that Russia is not attempting to "exterminate" the Ukrainian people.
“Lavrov's statements are part of the Kremlin's continued effort to shape American foreign policy so the United States engages with Russia on terms favorable to the Kremlin without offering any concessions favorable to the United States or conceding any of the Kremlin's maximalist objectives either in Ukraine or globally,” the ISW report stated.
Kremlin's crafty rhetoric
Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt humorously described Lavrov's remarks during the OSCE Council of Ministers meeting on December 4–5 in Malta as "testimony from a parallel universe."
Recently, US journalist Tucker Carlson published an interview with Lavrov, where the Russian foreign minister outlined a series of conditions for ending the war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Putin announced plans to sign a new security guarantee treaty with Belarus. He did not rule out the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a request reportedly made by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
