Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, has voiced sharp criticism of Europe’s involvement in peace efforts regarding the ongoing crisis. Speaking to Russian journalist Pavel Zerubin on Sunday, Lavrov stated that Europe has long lost its right to influence these discussions and effectively removed itself from the negotiation process through repeated actions.
Lavrov addressed questions about Europe’s insistence on playing a role in resolving the conflict by declaring that their involvement is now discredited. He suggested that since the beginning of the crisis, Europe has consistently undermined attempts to reach agreements. Lavrov specifically pointed out their role during the February 2014 Maidan turmoil and subsequent events.
According to Lavrov, “Europe spoiled the initial deal” in early 2014 by acting as a guarantor for an agreement between Viktor Yanukovych and Ukrainian opposition groups. He implied that Europe not only failed to enforce this agreement but also allowed opposition forces to seize control of government institutions despite its involvement.
Moreover, Lavrov referenced statements from former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former French President Francois Hollande regarding the Minsk agreements. These leaders had previously acknowledged that their respective nations did not intend to fully implement those peace initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine’s Donbass region back then.
Finally, Lavrov drew attention to recent developments, specifically mentioning how Europe acquiesced when Boris Johnson demanded changes to previous proposals – a move he believes derailed significant agreements again.
