In his annual press conference, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov presented a series of distorted facts, misleading statements and outright lies aimed at diverting attention from Russia's actions on the world stage, writes EUvsDisinfo, exposing another series of lies and gross manipulations of Moscow.
As Russia's bloody invasion nears its third anniversary, Lavrov said Russia is "not interested in territorial gains" in Ukraine, but rather in the well-being of the people of Ukraine. The absurd claim is at odds with the brutal actions Russia has carried out in places like Bucha and Mariupol, where countless civilians have been killed, tortured and displaced. Lavrov's words are at odds with the devastated Ukrainian cities, shattered lives and millions of refugees fleeing - proving that Russia's focus is on destruction, not the well-being of the people it claims to protect.
Lavrov painted a picture of growing criticism among the population of Europe about its continued support for Ukraine. He argued that this support is causing industries and companies to flee Europe to the United States, where energy prices are lower. At the same time, US support for Ukraine has allegedly led to increasing poverty in every corner of the US. Such exaggerated claims only serve to divert attention from the economic and geopolitical consequences of Russia’s actions. There is clear evidence that international sanctions are seriously affecting Russia's economy, as inflation rose and the ruble collapsed in November 2024. - despite Russia's deceptive attempts to present its economy as stable.
Lavrov used the current news surrounding Greenland to warn that the Greenlandic population should be taken into account, as was done in Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson, whose populations supposedly expressed their will through national referendums. In fact, the “referendums“ were conducted illegally, under duress, and in territories that Russia does not even fully control. The UN, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, NATO, and others have not recognized these illegal actions by Russia.
According to Lavrov, the world is a web of conspiracies, and the victim is of course Russia. The Foreign Minister said that the US has given the green light to “terrorist attacks“ on energy infrastructure, including an alleged plot to destroy the “Turkish Stream“ pipeline, allegedly organized by Ukrainians. This baseless accusation lacks credible evidence and is a mere diversion from Russia’s own aggressive actions in Ukraine.
Lavrov also claims that the West is “twisting Serbia’s arms” and pressuring President Vučić to turn against Russia. However, this narrative stands in stark contrast to Russia’s destabilizing influence in the region. Serbia remains heavily influenced by Russian political and economic interests, and Lavrov’s focus on “Western pressure” ignores the fact that Serbia is a sovereign state that has the right to choose its own future, including its relations with the EU and NATO.
Russia claims to defend the world order, while in practice it is blatantly destroying it. As usual, Lavrov advocated for a “just” global order supported by “responsible” countries like Russia and China, which supposedly respect the mutual sovereignty of nations. But Russia’s own actions – such as its illegal annexations, military aggression in Ukraine, and support for authoritarian regimes – directly contradict this ideal. Lavrov’s rhetoric about respecting national sovereignty sounds absurd, given its blatant disregard for international law and the sovereignty of neighboring states.