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Lavrov views NATO troops in any capacity in Ukraine as a threat to Russia

12 March 2025 13:37 (UTC +04:00)

Russia does not accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine

The potential deployment of NATO troops under any flag and in any capacity on Ukrainian soil would pose a threat to Russia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told US bloggers Mario Nawfal, Larry Johnson and Andrew Napolitano in an interview, APA reports citing TASS.

The presence of NATO troops in Ukraine is a threat to Moscow

"If NATO expansion is recognized, at least by [US President] Donald Trump as one of the root causes then the presence of the troops from NATO countries under any flag, in any capacity, on Ukrainian soil is the same threat," the minister maintained.

According to Lavrov, under no conditions will Russia tolerate the presence of NATO troops as peacekeepers on Ukrainian soil. Not "under any conditions," he said when asked to comment on the initiative.

"Nobody is talking to us. They keep saying nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine but they do everything about Russia without Russia," the diplomat expressed regret. "[US President Donald] Trump, by the way, when asked about peacekeepers he said, well, it's too early to discuss this, but normally you need the consent of the parties. Why should we give consent to the peacekeeping force or peacekeeping group even, not force? So they want force, composed of the countries who declared us an enemy and they would come as peacekeepers?" Russia’s top diplomat asked rhetorically.

In a televised address to the nation on March 5, French President Emmanuel Macron said that France would host a meeting of military chiefs from a number of European countries that support Kiev to discuss a potential deployment of European troops in Ukraine. On March 4, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna, said that Moscow is categorically against this idea.

Relations with the US and China: Russia maintains its position

"It is very well understood <…> that countries like the United States and Russia would never have their national interest the same. They would not coincide maybe even 50 or less percent. But when they do coincide, and this situation, if we are responsible politicians, must be used to develop this simultaneous and similar interest into something practical which would be mutually beneficial, be it economic projects, infrastructural projects or something else," the top diplomat said.

"The Americans know that we would not betray our commitments, legal commitments, but also, you know, the political commitments which we develop with the Chinese," the top diplomat said.

The European Union is losing its independence and economic power

"The United States is unlikely to leave NATO, despite the Trump administration’s attempt to shift responsibility for the Rammstein process on Ukraine to the UK. European nations are increasingly demanding more support from Washington, raising concerns about NATO’s ability to function without US leadership." said Russian top diplomat

Lavrov also criticized Europe’s economic decline, arguing that the EU has “lost its independence and economic meaning” as industries move to the US. He accused European leaders of prioritizing their ideological goal of “defeating Russia” over economic stability, leading to de-industrialization and weakened sovereignty.

Furthermore, Lavrov condemned NATO’s expansion into the Indo-Pacific, stating that the alliance, once proud of its defensive stance, is now forming exclusive military blocs such as AUKUS and attempting to bring ASEAN nations into these coalitions. He argued that NATO’s actions contradict its self-proclaimed defensive nature, further escalating global tensions.