Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (r.).Image: KEYSTONE
During negotiations about a possible end to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indirectly accused the USA of breaking its word.
Feb 9, 2026, 1:28 p.mFeb 9, 2026, 1:28 p.m
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump agreed on principles for a solution at their meeting in Alaska in August, which Washington now rejects, Lavrov said in an interview with the Brics TV portal published on the ministry’s website. “Now they are not ready,” said Lavrov.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said that the agreements reached in Anchorage were the only way for Russia to achieve a breakthrough in the negotiations. The talks would also continue, he said.
Russia, for example, is insisting that Ukraine completely withdraw its troops from the contested Donbass – that is, the Luhansk and Donetsk regions – even though Kiev still has some control there. There has so far been no movement on this issue in the trilateral negotiations between Ukrainians and Russians and the USA as mediator.
Lavrov criticizes pressure from the USA on Russia
Lavrov said in the interview that Russia was ready to establish full cooperation with the United States for mutual benefit. “So far in practice everything looks the opposite: new sanctions are being imposed, “war” is being waged against tankers on the open sea in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” said the minister.
“There are attempts to ban India and our other partners from purchasing cheap, available Russian energy sources,” Lavrov said. In return, the USA would force customers to buy liquid gas that costs three times as much.
Lavrov also accused the USA of wanting to specifically eliminate competitors with sanctions against Russian companies such as Lukoil and Rosneft. “We don’t see a “rosy” future in the economic sector,” he said, referring to the Russian-American relations that were resumed under Trump.
The Americans wanted to bring supply routes and energy sources on the continents under their control, said Lavrov. The goal is economic dominance. At the same time, Lavrov said that Russia remained ready for negotiations and cooperation. (sda/dpa)