Post #29509

🎙Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with the Public Television of Russia(Moscow, April 24, 2026) ❓Question: Our colleagues at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) are marking its Anniversary. To what extent is their analysis — the intellectual product they create — useful for practical diplomacy? 💬Sergey Lavrov: It is extremely valuable. Our Ministry has long maintained close cooperation with Russian research institutes specialising in foreign policy and international economic issues. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is supported by a Scientific Council that is attended by the heads of leading institutions, obviously including IMEMO. <...> Situational analyses and brainstorming sessions, held beyond the framework of the Scientific Council meetings, often yield highly effective solutions. These methods were actively introduced by Yevgeny Primakov, who, after leading IMEMO and serving in government, successfully promoted their use. They still remain relevant today. ❓Question: How would you describe the nature of Russian diplomacy today? Is there an art to it? 💬Sergey Lavrov: Certainly there is. First, its principles are reflected in doctrinal documents such as the Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation, which states the central aim as defending national interests while respecting those of other countries willing to engage on the basis of equality and mutual respect — an approach that the West is desperately lacking, and particularly now, when we are witnessing the Trump administration openly declaring that they do not want to know anything about international law, and that they will be guided by their own morals and instincts. [On the contrary], our approach emphasises national interests, mutual respect, the ability to understand a counterpart’s legitimate perspectives, and pragmatism. Diplomacy, like any form of politics, is the art of the possible, and we must proceed accordingly. President Vladimir #Putin has repeatedly said — including in relation to the Ukrainian crisis — that our objectives have been made perfectly clear. We have repeatedly stated the goals we pursue in the special military operation. <...> Diplomacy’s task is to defend national interests while respecting those of credible and trusted partners. At the same time, any agreement involving more than one player entails compromises in one way or another. ❗️ But those should not undermine the fundamental security interests of the Russian Federation or the rights of Russians and Russian-speaking populations, including people in #Donbass, #Novorossiya, and #Crimea, who faced discrimination and were declared terrorists following the 2014 coup. Diplomacy must remain principled and clear in its goals. ❓ Question: What is happening in the world now — do you think we have seen this before? Are we moving in a spiral, as Karl Marx suggested, periodically encountering such turbulence, or has something fundamentally new emerged? 💬Sergey Lavrov: History does indeed develop in a spiral. There is also the well-known notion that it repeats itself as a farce. One may interpret that idea in different ways, but what we are witnessing today is anything but farcical. Despite certain outward appearances (I believe many understand that it may indeed look like a farce), the consequences of the actions taken by our American colleagues — in this case together with Israel — are profound and will be felt for a long time. ❓Question: Russian diplomacy was once oriented toward being Europe’s main partner, then the United States. And now? 💬Sergey Lavrov: Since the days of the Russian Empire, there has been a well-known saying that Russia has only two allies: its army and its navy. Today, one could add the aerospace forces to that list — they cannot be ignored. So, it seems the number of our allies is growing. Read in full