The guest on the latest episode of the Sanchez Effect is Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. In the interview, Russia’s top diplomat reflects on the origins of the crisis in relations between Russia and the West and the negotiations aimed at settling the conflict in Ukraine.
According to Lavrov, Moscow has become disillusioned with its Western partners due to violations of the Minsk agreements and unfulfilled commitments, including assurances that NATO would not expand eastwards. He says European leaders continue to take a hostile approach towards Russia while offering no practical steps towards peace, observing that this kind of diplomacy is «pathetic» and lacks seriousness.
Despite ongoing talks on Ukraine, the Trump administration has continued to tighten sanctions on Russia, including measures targeting its oil companies. Lavrov notes that this makes dialogue more difficult, while stressing that confrontation with the United States must be avoided.
What lies ahead for Russian-American relations? Who in the US benefits from Russophobia? And what role could Russia play in addressing the situation surrounding Iran?
