INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday expressed cautious optimism about signals coming from U.S
President-elect Donald Trump over the war in Ukraine, just days before Trump assumes office."The very fact that people are starting to talk
more about the realities on the ground probably deserves being welcomed," Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow.Throughout his
election campaign and transition period, Trump has said he would bring a swift end to the war, criticized U.S
military aid sent to Ukraine under President Joe Biden and expressed skepticism about America's continued involvement in NATO.While
supportive of Trump's public positions, Lavrov noted that Moscow has yet to see concrete proposals from the incoming administration."We will
wait for specific initiatives," the foreign minister said
"Once he becomes president and formulates a definitive position on Ukrainian affairs, of course, we will study it."Lavrov also denied
receiving any formal proposals for a meeting between Trump and Putin, despite Trump's saying publicly that such a meeting was being planned
Direct talks between Trump and Putin would mark a significant departure from the current U.S
2022.At the same time, Lavrov said he welcomed Trump's apparent understanding of Russia's grievances regarding NATO
Last week, Trump claimed that Biden had decided to allow Ukraine to join NATO and said he could "understand [Russia's] feeling about
that.""This is the first time a Western leader has admitted that NATO lied about its promises not to expand at the expense of Russia's
security," Lavrov said.Moscow has long argued that NATO's enlargement into Eastern Europe and the Baltics, as well as a 2008 pledge that
Ukraine would eventually join the alliance, are key reasons for the war's outbreak.Kyiv and its Western allies have repeatedly dismissed
that narrative as baseless, insisting that Russia's invasion is an illegal act of aggression aimed at reasserting control over a sovereign,
pro-Western neighbor.A Message from The Moscow Times:Dear readers,We are facing unprecedented challenges
Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting
our staff at risk of prosecution
This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia
The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide
accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced
But to continue our work, we need your help.Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference
If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2
It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent
journalism in the face of repression
set.
We will send you one reminder email a month from now
For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy.
