Russia Does Not Negotiate Its Territorial Integrity: Highlights From Lavrov's CBS Interview
17:19 27.04.2025 (Updated: 19:09 27.04.2025)
© Sputnik . Alexey Maishev
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Russia does not negotiate on the integrity of its territory, and US President Donald Trump understands this, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, commenting on the US leader's recent remarks regarding Crimea.
"Russia does not negotiate its own territory. And President Trump understands this," Lavrov told CBS News.
Lavrov also addressed Trump's remarks that the Crimea issue is not currently under discussion.
"Yes, because it is a done deal," the foreign minister said.
When asked if he liked Trump's words that the peninsula has been officially under Russian control since 2014, Lavrov said it is not about opinions but about facts.
"It is not about liking or disliking. It is about the fact that he said the truth," the top Russian diplomat said.
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/ Ukraine Conflict Ceasefire Just to Rearm Kiev Doesn't Align With Peacemaking Goals
"[EU's] Kaja Kallas and [NATO's] Mark Rutte bluntly stated that they can support only the deal which at the end of the day will make Ukraine stronger, would make Ukraine a victor. So if this is the purpose of the ceasefire, I don't think this is what President Trump wants. This is what Europeans, together with Zelensky, want to make out of President Trump's initiative," the Russian FM told the CBS News.
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/ Russia has not received any proposals regarding the transfer of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) to joint US-Ukrainian control, Lavrov said.
"No, we never received such an offer, and if we do, we would explain that the power station, Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Station, is run by the Russian Federation state corporation called Rosatom. It is being under monitoring of the IAEA personnel permanently located on the site, and if not for the Ukrainian regular attempts to attack the station and to create a nuclear disaster for Europe and for Ukraine, as well, the safety requirements are fully implemented. It is in very good hands," he explianed.
A journalist asked the minister whether this meant a definitive "no", to which Lavrov replied that he did not believe any changes on this matter were possible.
"We did not receive any proposal which would be specific, so, you know, I understand that journalists have to speculate. We cannot speculate on something which is really not being mentioned during the negotiations," the minister added.
On March 25, the Russian foreign ministry stated that transferring control of ZNPP to Ukraine or another country is unacceptable.
On Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the US President Donald Trump's administration has presented Kiev with concessions that Washington may demand as part of the potential Ukraine settlement deal, including establishing US control over the territory around the ZNPP.
Russia Will Continue to Target Facilities Used by Ukrainian Military, Mercenaries
"We will continue to target the sites used by the military of Ukraine by some mercenaries from foreign countries and by instructors whom the Europeans officially sent to help target Russian civilian sites," Lavrov said in an interview with CBS News.
"If you take a look at the situation in the Kursk Region of Russia, for example, there is no single military target for the last six months which the Ukrainians would fire at," he noted.
Additionally, Lavrov recalled the proposal of US President Donald Trump, supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin, to introduce a 30-day moratorium on attacks against energy infrastructure.
"We never violated this commitment of President Putin. And Ukrainians violated what Zelensky seemed to support several hundred times. And I sent to [US State Secretary] Marco Rubio and to the United Nations the list of those attacks. It's really very, very telling and eloquent," Lavrov added.
No Proposals to Lift US Sanctions Against Russia Have Been Made
During an interview, a journalist asked Lavrov in which areas Washington had offered to ease sanctions against Russia and whether any such proposals had been made.
"No. How can we offer something? In a situation when .... Well, the United States clearly tells us that they are interested in doing business together. We never reject business proposals provided they are based on the equal opportunities and the treatment of each other and lead to a balance of interest," Lavrov said.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that Russia will cope with the sanctions pressure that the West has been exerting on it. Russia has noted that the West lacks the courage to admit the failure of the sanctions. Several Western officials have repeatedly expressed opinions that sanctions are ineffective.
Confidence-Building Efforts in Focus in Russia-US Talks on Ukraine
Trump's proposal on 30 days moratorium on the strikes against the energy infrastructure was supported by Putin and observed strictly, the Russian FM told the CBS News in a recent interview.
"This was a confidence building measure against the policy and action taken by the Zelensky regime," he said. "As I said, several hundred times civilian energy infrastructure was struck."
Additionally, Trump's proposal to resume the Black Sea deal saw delegations meet in Istanbul and Riyadh, exploring practical implementation. The US is currently considering Russia's suggestions.
"But if you believe that it's only Ukraine who is interested in confidence building, I think a short answer would be this is an illusion," he concluded.
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/ Can US and Russia Find Common Ground in Talks Process?
The United States disrupted the process of strengthening strategic stability, Lavrov told the CBS News.
"In the US doctrinal documents, we are described as adversary, when the officials in Washington called some time ago, called us enemy," he explained.
The minister stressed that it's crucial to understand Washington’s true stance on the relationship.
If they are prepared for an "equal, mutually respectful dialogue" aimed at balancing interests, Moscow is open for anything, he added.
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/ Lavrov on Trump's Call to Stop Strikes in Ukraine: Only Military Facilities Targeted
"In our case, we only target those sites which are used by the military. And regarding the ceasefire and regarding the call to stop, President Putin immediately supported President Trump's proposal a few weeks ago to establish a 30-day ceasefire, provided we do not repeat mistakes of the last 10 years when deals were signed and then Ukraine would violate those deals with the support and with encouragement from [former US President Joe] Biden administration and from European countries," Lavrov said in an interview with CBS News.
He also recalled that Putin, when committing to the ceasefire, said that it should not be taken advantage of to reinforce the Ukrainian military and that weapon supplies must stop.
On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported conducting large-scale strikes on Ukrainian aviation, missile, and armored vehicle production facilities. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was targeting military installations and other sites linked to the Ukrainian armed forces. In response, Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Russia's strikes against Ukraine, calling for their cessation and urging Russian authorities to negotiate a peace settlement.
