Russia's Foreign Policy Course Not to Be Affected by Any Threats or Blackmail - Lavrov
10:13 GMT 11.02.2026 (Updated: 11:29 GMT 11.02.2026)
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's foreign policy course will not be affected by any threats or blackmail, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.
On Russian Foreign Policy and World Development
"I would like to note once again that our foreign policy course, which is not conditioned by electoral cycles and personal preferences, will continue to be predictable in the long term. Threats, pressure, blackmail, no matter who they come from, will not affect it," Lavrov said, speaking at the government hour in the State Duma.
The world has entered an era of rapid and very profound changes, and this stage may last for many years, Russian Foreign Minister said.
"The dramatic events of the beginning of this year, including the armed invasion of Venezuela by the United States, the escalation of American pressure on Cuba, attempts to destabilize the situation in Iran, and the crisis over Greenland — all of which we have seen and heard about — have confirmed our assessment that the world has entered an era of rapid and very profound changes … This stage may last for many, many years, or even decades," Lavrov said.
On Russia-China Relations
"The development of our relations with China has a stabilizing effect on the entire system of international relations and at the same time plays a crucial role in solving the strategic task of forming a belt of good neighborliness along the Russian borders," Lavrov stated.
Russia will actively and productively prepare for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China in 2026, he added.
"Our diplomacy consciously promotes honest, equal and mutually beneficial partnerships with all who are willing to engage with us on these same principles. Our partnership, friendly relations with the People's Republic of China, our great eastern neighbor, is a great example of such cooperation," the top diplomat also said.
On Cuba and Venezuela
"We stand in solidarity with the peoples of Venezuela and Cuba, which, as I have already said, are under severe external pressure. We intend to provide all necessary support to our friends together with other like-minded people," Russian Foreign Minister said.
The US decision to ban Russia, China and Iran from oil deals with Venezuela is direct discrimination, Sergey Lavrov said.
"Now the United States is removing barriers to the work of the Venezuelan oil industry, but by a direct decision of the finance minister, Russia, China and Iran are prohibited from participating in any operations related to oil production and the sale of oil to Venezuela. Direct discrimination, despite the fact that Russia, China and Iran had investments in the Venezuelan energy and oil sector," Lavrov said.
🚨 The world has entered a period of rapid and profound change that could last for many years or even decades, Russian FM Lavrov said, citing crises in Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, and tensions over Greenland pic.twitter.com/uyGHfETavx
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 11, 2026
On Russia-US Relations
The understandings reached by Russia and the United States in Anchorage on Ukrainian conflict settlement remain to be on the table, Sergey Lavrov said.
"A sustainable settlement of the crisis, which was provoked by the collective West in Ukraine, is impossible without eradicating its root causes. As you know, this approach was recognized by the [US President Donald] Trump administration, and on this basis, during the meeting of the presidents of Russia and the United States in Alaska last August, understandings were reached on how to ensure a sustainable long-term settlement of the Ukrainian problem. These understandings remain on the table," Lavrov stated.
Russia will be committed to arms limits after the expiration of the New START (New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) if the United States does the same, Russian Foreign Minister said.
Russia has not yet received the US's official response to its initiative to keep arms limits after the treaty's expiration, the minister added.
"We proceed from the fact that this moratorium on our part, which was announced by [Russian] President [Vladimir Putin], remains in place, but only as long as the United States also does not exceed the aforementioned limits," Lavrov said.
🚨Russia will maintain its New START moratorium as long as the US respects the limits — Lavrov
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 11, 2026
Read more about the New START Treaty HERE 👉 https://t.co/x0XZHsuDzK pic.twitter.com/p17w2UkLuk
"We have reason to believe that the United States is in no hurry to move away from these indicators, and these indicators will be respected for the foreseeable future. We will monitor very closely how everything is really happening," Lavrov added.
Russia will take adequate countermeasures in the event of the militarization of Greenland and the creation of military capabilities there, Sergey Lavrov said.
🇷🇺 FM Lavrov: If Greenland is militarized and used against Russia, Moscow will respond with appropriate military-technical measures pic.twitter.com/8fp4VdYNY9
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 11, 2026
Moscow is currently working out its attitude to the Board of Peace created by US President Donald Trump, Russian Foreign Minister said.
"Our attitude to the Board of Peace, we are currently working on it, taking into account how many countries in the West and East reacted to this idea, including the permanent members of the UN Security Council," Lavrov said.
Russia has always been ready for strategic dialogue with the United States, but Washington is still thinking, Lavrov said.
"The strategic dialogue with the [US President Donald] Trump's administration has not yet begun, we are ready for this [dialogue], they are still thinking," Lavrov said.
Russia is trying to promote the idea of mutually respectful work in its contacts with the United States, without the idea of domination, Lavrov added.
"So far, we have not seen any visible practical results, but apart from the fact that we have repeatedly welcomed the resumption of dialogue in various formats, not only on Ukraine, but also on issues of bilateral relations. I hope that this dialogue will someday lead to something meaningful, including the implementation of those mutually beneficial economic projects that have been talked about so much in recent years," Lavrov also said.
🚨 Lavrov: Russia will use all political and diplomatic efforts to achieve the goals and objectives of the special military operation pic.twitter.com/1LXBpBT3gc
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) February 11, 2026
On Russia-India relations
"You mentioned that [US President] Donald Trump announced India's agreement not to buy more Russian oil. I have not heard such a statement from anyone else, including from the Prime Minister [of India Narendra] Modi and other Indian participants," Lavrov said, speaking at the government hour in the State Duma.
Russia has no grounds to think that Russia-India high-level agreements are under threat due to US actions, Lavrov said, adding that Moscow considers US tariffs on trade with India to a be a bilateral issue.
🚨🇷🇺“No one except Trump has stated that India intends to stop purchasing Russian oil,” Lavrov stressed.
— Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) February 11, 2026
According to him, there are no grounds to believe that Russian-Indian agreements are under any risk. pic.twitter.com/lCGmeUBlbC
On North Korea
"To talk about denuclearization in an environment where the United States and South Korea are actively increasing military cooperation, including with the nuclear component, and in an environment where Japan is going to join this cooperation ... To say here that calls for denuclearization are relevant is to disrespect our Korean friends," Lavrov said.
Russia will not allow to pass any resolutions of the UN Security Council on new sanctions against North Korea, the minister added.
On UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
"We turned to Guterres, reminded him that for many years he has been saying that the Ukrainian problem should be solved on the basis of respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and asked how so. Do you know what he replied to us? 'We confirm the position of the secretariat that in the case of Greenland, the right to self-determination is applicable, but in the case of Crimea, Donbass, Novorossiya, it does not apply.' This is the UN secretary general, it would be difficult to imagine a greater disgrace for the organization," Lavrov said.
Russia will take into account Guterres’ biased behavior while considering a candidate for the next UN head, the minister added.
On Europe
"Europe has woken up and is trying to send signals. Including [French President Emmanuel] Macron spoke about this, recently such an outspoken Russophobe as the President of Finland, Mr. Stubb, said this," Lavrov said.
There will be no initiatives from Moscow regarding Europe, but Russia will consider appeals from there, if they are submitted, Lavrov added.
