Russian Foreign Minister Blames US for Strained Relations
By Matt Coleman
Published January 24, 2024
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has attributed the strained relations between the US and Russia to the United States. He emphasized that Moscow bears no responsibility for the deteriorating ties and that the onus of restoring them lies solely with Washington.
Causes of Strained Relations
The Ukraine conflict, which began in February 2022, has been a significant factor contributing to the deterioration of US-Russia relations. Moscow has criticized the US and other Western nations for imposing unprecedented sanctions and supplying weapons to Kiev. The Kremlin argues that these actions will only prolong the conflict without altering its outcome.
NATO Expansion and Ukraine's Desire to Join
Another contentious issue in bilateral relations is NATO's expansion toward Russia's borders, which Moscow perceives as an existential threat. Russia has highlighted Ukraine's aspiration to join the US-led military bloc as a primary reason for the ongoing conflict.
Russia's Stance on Improving Relations
In an interview with CBS News, Lavrov emphasized that Russia is not inclined to take the initiative in repairing relations with Washington, asserting that it was not Russia that initially strained the ties. He expressed that Russia would not seek forgiveness from the US and indicated that the responsibility for the shattered ties lies with those who fabricated the 'Russian threat' and disregarded the goodwill demonstrated by President Vladimir Putin during his initial terms in office.
Perceived Ignorance of Past Policies
Lavrov regretted that the current generation of US politicians appeared to have overlooked the 'unacceptable policies' that the United States began to promote in the early 1990s. He cited Western policymakers' attempts to 'keep' President Putin in their 'pocket' as a misguided approach.
Putin's Admission
Lavrov's comments align with Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent admission that he was 'naive' early in his political career for believing that there was no inherent reason for Russia and the West to be in conflict following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Putin later recognized that Western nations aimed to partition Russia into multiple entities to enhance their global influence.
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