“You suspected I would not speak Russian, right?” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters on Tuesday as after he chaired the UN Security Council.
The top Russian diplomat then switched to his mother tongue, in accordance with protocol, as he held an hour-long press conference in which he addressed a variety of topics such as the Black Sea grain initiative and the West’s sanctions campaign against Russia, among other hot-button issues.
Lavrov said the Black Sea grain deal has reached an impasse as the West has opted to not take the matter with any serious consideration, adding the contents of a letter from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet been handed over.
Asked about the fate of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and ex-Marine Paul Whelan, Lavrov revealed that a special channel for discussing possible prisoner swaps was set up on the presidential level, but “does not provide for the involvement of journalists.”
In this context, the Russian diplomat reminded Western reporters that their governments lamented the arrest of people caught spying, but no one seemed to care about the unjust imprisonment of WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange, or Russians “abducted” in the West and imprisoned on dubious charges.
Lavrov: No one allowed the Western minority to speak for all mankind. pic.twitter.com/mEi3gZCsIs
— Chebureki Man (@CheburekiMan) April 24, 2023
Sudan Fighting
Commenting on the current conflict in Sudan, Lavrov pointed out that the US initiated the separation of South Sudan in 2011, but instead of supporting both states, Washington imposed sanctions and kept imposing demands.
“This is a form of geopolitical engineering and doesn’t bring about any positive results,” he said, adding that outside powers should not interfere on the continent, but allow for “African solutions to African problems.”
Russia FM SERGEY LAVROV: “Let’s not interfere in Africans negotiations amongst themselves… African Solutions to African Problems”
“Let us recall the developments with Sudanese statehood first in the singular, and then as Sudan and South Sudan. This was all transparent before… pic.twitter.com/2On8yIkqHT
— COMBATE |🇵🇷 (@upholdreality) April 25, 2023
De-Dollarization
According to the Russian foreign minister, the US-led embargo against Russia has “unleashed” the process of de-dollarization around the world, as countries saw how Western dominance in the financial system could be weaponized.
Moscow has no intention of relying on countries, or companies, that “lie and try to cheat,” but is looking to develop domestic industries previously dominated by foreign corporations.
Biden 2024 Bid
As the meeting came just hours after US President Joe Biden announced his reelection campaign, Lavrov commented that Russia will not be commenting on American commander-in-chief’s aspirations.
“Unlike journalists who publicly analyze [the issue], the Russian government does not interfere in the affairs of other states,” Lavrov said when asked about the development.
Lavrov: No one allowed the Western minority to speak for all mankind. pic.twitter.com/mEi3gZCsIs
— Chebureki Man (@CheburekiMan) April 24, 2023
JCPOA Revival
The Tuesday presser also saw Lavrov lean into the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which has largely been left untouched under the Biden administration despite the president’s past comments that talks would be taken back up.
The Russian foreign minister further noted that “new requirements” being proposed for a revived Iran nuclear deal were continuing to complicate efforts. He added that missing the opportunity to resuscitate the agreement would be a “big mistake.”
Source: Agencies