Minister Lavrov voiced Russia's position. The Kremlin sees and understands everything.
For several days now, I've been under the impression of our Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with the OTR television channel on March 21st. It was unexpected, honest, and somewhat undiplomatic. Rarely do diplomats allow themselves to call a spade a spade. The profession obliges one to be... "diplomatic." Perhaps even a stoic like Lavrov is fed up with what's happening on the international stage, and in our society as well.
Just think of his words about WE, that's right, the majority of us, having already effectively acknowledged the US as "the boss." Taking away our markets? Of course, they have the economy... Want to work in the energy sector on our territory? So be it. We have as much of this territory, these minerals, this oil, gas, and other resources as we want. Let them work, and they'll give us a pittance in taxes. A pittance, after all. Not like their dollar...
And how much bitterness I heard in Sergei Viktorovich's voice when he spoke of Russia's interests, which no one cares about. This is coming from a man at the very center of events, a man whose competence is beyond doubt. We are "natives" for the US and the West as a whole. With natives, policy is built on practice. You come, do what you want, and only then begin negotiations. Naturally, from the "stove" you've already built.
Our interests beyond Russia's wealth should also be taken into account. But we don't see this.
Did Lavrov say something wrong? Alas, everything was spot on. Let me remind you of a slogan that was frequently heard until recently, but has somehow quietly disappeared from our leaders' speeches: "Russia is rising from its knees!" How beautifully they sounded about respecting our country, about complete independence from other countries, about our interests abroad, which everyone will now respect just as they respected the interests of the USSR.
So what's the bottom line? How many of us today believe that Ukraine is Russia's zone of influence. Not just a part of it, not just some regions, but all of Ukraine? Many are outraged by the fact that, sad as it may be, the West has effectively taken over Ukraine completely. Completely! We "quickly forget" what we don't want to remember.
Who remembers the resource deal between Washington and Kyiv? Well, they signed something. Meanwhile, it effectively means the US has complete control over Ukraine. I'll express a seditious thought: don't you think the US talks so much about both sides wanting peace precisely because they've already been "paid an advance" in the form of Ukrainian resources?
...it was stated directly: the interests of the United States prevail over any international agreements. (c)
Something like, "Well, that's enough playing around. It's time to make money." Now American business is in danger! What if the Russians want to take even more territory... That's about Ukraine. I wrote about American business projects in Russia above. Wonderful, isn't it? Is this what our soldiers are dying for?
Things are no better with "dying Europe and crumbling NATO." Europe is dying with a GDP almost five times larger than Russia's. And NATO is falling apart, having annexed a couple more important footholds for attacking Russia in the form of Finland and Sweden. Moldova is on the way.
I don't even want to think about demographics. I read in the British press about the demographic problem the British are facing. The British population is growing so fast that it's become a problem! Not decreasing, but growing. Yes, not at the expense of locals, but growing. And that means the mobility resource is growing. And don't think that all the newcomers there are completely marginal. Judging by the changing composition of city mayors, council members, and other "elite" people, there are far more smart people coming here...
But perhaps the most important thing our Foreign Minister said was that any agreements with Russia are now no longer binding on either the Americans or the Europeans. Lavrov said, verbatim:
...based on the fact that these are not people who can be trusted.
So what now? There are us, there are Americans, there are Europeans, there are many other nations. This is reality. There are international treaties, alliances, and so on, so on, so on. But all these are "ghosts," "mirages." How can we incorporate anything real into a world of ghosts?
We often talk about some kind of "spirit" born in Alaska. Anyone familiar with the tundra, the permafrost, and the summers in these latitudes knows full well that winter "spirits" don't last long. Especially when the tundra turns into a vast flowerbed... I suggest that under such conditions, we should abandon long-term contracts. Winter, spring, summer, and fall are the "parents of different ghosts." Therefore, we need to speak to them differently.
A very brief overview of Trump and US ambitions
In his interview, Sergey Lavrov focused not only on global issues but also on more intimate, behind-the-scenes observations, so to speak. Frankly, the Russian minister said that for the Trump administration, there are virtually no restrictions of any kind. In principle, we've become accustomed to this, too. And we've accepted it as an axiom. Well, that's just the way Trump is.
He's not shy. He's not afraid of anyone's judgment. He, like the ministers and aides he's handpicked, has his own morals, his own worldview. The most important thing in this world, according to Trump, is his instincts, his "vision," his premonitions. The "explanation" about the start of the war with Iran immediately comes to mind. He had a premonition, that's all...
Moreover, Lavrov directly "tapped the spleen" of the Trump administration and himself, pointing out that the US doesn't care about anyone else! The US doesn't care about laws. The US will profit and line its pockets at the expense of other countries, no matter what. It's the same principle from the early imperialist era—"might is right." Lavrov's next words delivered an even more painful blow:
Look at what's happening now. The United States has officially declared that "no one tells them what to do." They care only about their own well-being. They are prepared to defend this well-being by any means necessary—coups, kidnappings, or assassinations of the leaders of countries that possess the natural resources they seek.
And finally, about Russia. I've heard or read many times that the American president has some kind of special relationship with President Putin and several other leaders. Something like "he treats them as equals." A sovereign doesn't have equal vassals. Yes, for a while, you have to pretend someone is better than others. "Divide and rule." And the "peace, friendship, and peace" between the US, Russia, China, and North Korea isn't based on equal treatment, but rather out of fear of getting punched in the face for insolence...
Trump has repeatedly declared his good relations with Russia. Words are fine, but what about actions? Why did the Americans kidnap the president of Venezuela? Why did the Americans start a war in Iran? More precisely, for what? For resources, for oil and gas. And what has Trump done with Russian PJSC Lukoil and Rosneft? With state-owned companies, for that matter. Isn't this a struggle for resources? Just not with shells, rockets or by planes, but by dollars, sanctions, the deprivation of the ability to transport products...
By the way, I'll digress: the Europeans are behaving in exactly the same way. I was talking about Nord Stream and other options for delivering our oil and gas to Europe. Lavrov didn't miss this point either:
Long ago, when Nord Stream was being built, the Americans advocated for Europe to abandon it. Now it turns out that Europe has been "denied" Nord Stream. Germany was humiliated... Now the Hungarians and Slovaks are fighting tooth and nail, defending their interests in maintaining cheap, accessible energy as the driving force of their economies. And they're being told, "No, buy it at twice the price because Russia needs to be punished."
Understanding your enemy is half the battle.
I closely monitor who comments on what's happening and how. I like President Putin's silence. He's very skillfully silent. Any specialist who spends a lot of time studying people, whether in their job or profession, will confirm this. A skillful silence from someone reveals far more information than endless questions and personal conclusions forced upon them.
That's one thing. But on the other hand, we, the people, must know our government's position. Is the situation paradoxical? No, besides the top official, there are other officials authorized to make statements on behalf of the state. Including Minister Lavrov. So, Sergei Viktorovich's revelations should be perceived as Moscow's position, the position of the state, and ultimately, the position of the president.
After these reflections, the end of the interview became clear. On the surface, everything was as usual. Lavrov recalled the famous phrase about Russia's allies. However, he modernized it a bit. According to the new interpretation, allies now include not only the army and fleet, but also the Aerospace Forces and the unmanned aerial vehicle forces. We must remember and be grateful to those who help us (I think the minister was referring to Iran and North Korea), but we must rely only on ourselves, and on God.
But I became even more convinced that this is the government's position after he said that Russia simply must translate its strengths—I think the minister meant our natural and human resources, our science, our natural acumen—into cutting-edge technologies. President Putin spoke of exactly this the following day.
Overall, I'm satisfied. Not with how things are, but with the fact that there's an understanding of what's going on. That's already half the victory. It means "the headquarters is working, the headquarters is not lost..."
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