Lavrov: US Policy of Engaging Russia from ‘Position of Strength’ Doomed to Failure
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that any US attempts to talk to Russia from a “position of strength” are doomed to failure, and any aggressive move will be met with a harsh response.
“Attempts to talk with us from a position of strength are doomed to failure from the beginning,” he told the Indonesian Rakyat Merdeka newspaper.
“We will respond harshly and decisively to unfriendly actions. One should interact honestly if Washington really wants stable and predictable, as they put it, relations,” the top diplomat said, when asked about the future of Russia-US relations after the Geneva summit.
The interview with Lavrov was published ahead of his visit to Jakarta, set for Wednesday. He is expected to meet with his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi, to discuss trade and investment ties, as well as cooperation on pressing global and regional issues.
According to the Russian top diplomat, Moscow is satisfied that his country and the US were able to share their stances and expressed their intention to normalize relations in Geneva.
“In our opinion, the Russia-US summit was frank and businesslike. The sides managed to discuss in detail the situation in bilateral affairs, to exchange views on strategic stability, arms control, regional conflicts,” Lavrov said.
The Russian side has been satisfied with the results of the talks, as both parties stated clearly their positions and “demonstrated the desire to understand each other,” he added.
Though modest, the outcome can still be considered a step forward toward the “restoration of normalcy” in relations between the two countries, which, according to Lavrov, should be based on mutual respect.
At the same time, Lavrov stressed that Moscow has no illusions about its relations with Washington. He noted that almost immediately after the summit, the US officials, including those present in Geneva, resumed their aggressive and moralistic rhetoric toward Russia.
Source: Agencies