Lavrov says Russia's priority is removing all threats on its western direction
In short
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on 20 October that Russia's priority is to reliably eliminate all threats on the western direction. He spoke at a meeting with university graduates admitted to the diplomatic service and blamed a war he said the West unleashed against Russia.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday, 20 October, that Russia's priority is to reliably eliminate all threats on the western direction. Interfax and RIA Novosti reported that he spoke at a meeting with university graduates who had been admitted to the diplomatic service. TASS headlined its report with the same message, describing the threats as arising from a war the West unleashed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to Interfax and RIA Novosti, Lavrov said the threats exist "above all as a result of the war that the West unleashed against Russia by the hands and bodies of Ukrainians". He added that the aim is to protect the honour and dignity of Russians and people of Russian culture, and their right to their native language and faith. He called these the goals of the special military operation. [ 2 , 3 ]
Interfax also reported Lavrov's account of earlier security proposals. He said that since 2008 Moscow had offered to agree, in a Euro-Atlantic context, a treaty on equal, indivisible security, and that this was rejected. He said the last attempt was in December 2021, when Russia gave two draft treaties, one for the Americans and one between Russia and NATO, which he said were rejected out of hand. He also quoted words he said were spoken to Russia in 2014: "We do not interfere in your trade relations with Canada, and you should not interfere in our relations with Ukraine." [ 2 ]
Lavrov stressed that the operation has other tasks as well and that all the goals would undoubtedly be achieved. He said this would improve the situation on the Eurasian continent and give impetus to forming a multipolar world order based on a balance of interests, international law and the UN Charter. Interfax noted that the text of the speech was published on the Russian Foreign Ministry website. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The remarks restate Russia's stated aims for its "special military operation" as given by its foreign minister. The documents give no basis for assessing any practical consequence.
Key facts
- Lavrov spoke on Tuesday, 20 October, at a meeting with university graduates newly admitted to the diplomatic service. [ 2 , 3 ]
- He said Russia's priority is to reliably eliminate all threats on the western direction, above all those resulting from a war the West unleashed against Russia "by the hands and bodies" of Ukrainians. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He also named protecting the honour and dignity of Russians and people of Russian culture, and their right to their native language and faith, as goals of the special military operation. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Lavrov said Moscow had proposed a treaty on equal, indivisible security since 2008 and that the proposals were rejected. [ 2 ]
- He said two draft treaties, one with the United States and one between Russia and NATO, were given in December 2021 and "rejected out of hand". [ 2 ]
- Lavrov said all the goals would undoubtedly be achieved, which he said would improve the situation on the Eurasian continent and give impetus to a multipolar world order. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Lavrov stated that Russia's priority is to reliably eliminate all threats on the western direction, above all from a war he said the West unleashed against Russia through Ukrainians. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The statement was made at a meeting with university graduates admitted to the diplomatic service. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the West unleashed the war against Russia This is Lavrov's own assertion, reported by all three outlets without independent comment.
- Lavrov's account of past Russian security proposals and Western replies since 2008, including a remark he attributed to the West in 2014 Only Interfax reports these passages, and they are Lavrov's own account.