Russia is ready to participate in the meeting between Moscow, Washington and Beijing proposed by US President Donald Trump to discuss issues related to nuclear security, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with American bloggers, News.bg reports.
According to him, Russia is open to such a format, provided that China shows interest.
Lavrov commented that during the negotiations in Riyadh, the US delegation expressed a desire for "normal relations" with Russia and a readiness for "serious talks". He stressed that, although the interests of the two countries are not identical, when there is a coincidence, it is important to use this to achieve stability.
According to him, the US under the new Trump administration is returning to "normality", without anti-Christian ideas, and is beginning to share values that are close to those of Russia.
The Foreign Minister stated that there are "serious concerns" in the Trump administration about the alleged violations in the supply of American weapons to Ukraine during the term of Joe Biden. He stressed that the strategic importance of Ukraine for Russia is "much greater" than the importance of Greenland for the US.
Lavrov described the EU's position against Kiev's capitulation as a "360-degree turn". He accused Britain and other European countries of trying to pressure Trump to take more aggressive action against Moscow, but added that the US president refused to provide security guarantees to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russia categorically rejects the idea of deploying NATO "peacekeepers" in Ukraine. Lavrov stressed that Moscow would not make a compromise that would threaten Russian interests in the region.
Regarding the debate in the EU on creating its own military alliance, Lavrov described it as "a test of the US response". According to him, Brussels has lost its economic independence and strategic weight.
The Russian foreign minister said that Trump "never hinted" to leave NATO, but insists that European countries increase their contributions to collective security.
Lavrov described China's approach to the United States as "the only correct", emphasizing that, despite disagreements, the dialogue between Beijing and Washington has never been interrupted. Moscow follows the same logic in its relations with Trump.
He acknowledged that Western sanctions are hindering some Russian infrastructure projects in Siberia, but assured that Moscow and Beijing are in no hurry and remain strategic partners.