Russia Cannot Rule Out Ukraine Benefiting From Crocus Terrorist Attack - Lavrov

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow cannot rule out Ukraine possibly receiving benefits from the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"The West is suspiciously actively convincing us, not only publicly, but also in contacts through our diplomatic missions, that Ukraine should not be suspected. Without explaining why. Although from the point of view of general logic, answering the question of who benefits from this, we cannot rule out Ukraine," Lavrov told Russia’s Izvestia newspaper.

The West is actively trying to convince everyone that this is the work of the Islamic State* and no one else should be suspected, the minister added.

"They constantly directly speak about this country [Ukraine] and its non-involvement. It is becoming obsessive," Lavrov said.

Macron's Provocative Statements

French President Emmanuel Macron is creating a distraction with his statements about sending troops to Ukraine because domestic issues seem to be unimportant for him and it is necessary to divert attention from existing problems, Lavrov said.

"It seems to me the French activity on this 'front' is designed solely to distract in a situation where 'at home' he has unimportant affairs and it is necessary to create some diversion in the form of calls to "get Russia," the minister emphasized.

The top diplomat recalled that France was one of the parties that guaranteed an agreement between Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the opposition in 2014. "The morning after, it [the agreement] was trampled on. All administrative buildings were seized and, contrary to the creation of a government of national unity to prepare for snap elections a 'government of winners' was announced. This is when a 'wedge' was driven into Ukrainian society," Lavrov said.

The foreign minister said Paris had previously promoted many agreements on conflict resolution, "which at that time no one was going to implement."

"And we are told about non-negotiability... If we are to talk about contractual capacity or about who has what authority, it is probably not the French or other members of the European Union, who were engaged in these 'cases' and then simply proved their uselessness," the minister said.

Plan to Isolate Russia Failed

Lavrov commented on the plan for Russia's isolation in the post-Soviet space published in Politico with a proverb: “it doesn't hurt to dream".

During an interview with the newspaper Izvestia the minister was presented with Politico’s article exploring possible options for action against Russia, including the isolation of the country within its borders and the alienation of the post-Soviet republics. Such an option of action is considered "generous," said the minister, and in general the West has many scenarios for the "decolonization" of Russia.

"It doesn't hurt to dream, as our people say," he replied.

Previously Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that ill-wishers who seek to isolate the Russian Federation have not achieved their goal.

Consequences of Undiplomatic Behavior

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that after the refusal of European ambassadors to meet with him ahead of the Russian presidential election, every request of communication from European diplomatic representatives in Moscow with Russian authorities will be coordinated by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

In early March Lavrov said he invited EU countries' ambassadors for a conversation ahead of that month's upcoming presidential election, but they refused two days before the planned meeting.

"They are here but do not want to communicate with the Foreign Minister. We informed them that from now on, at any level, be it an ambassador, an attache or everyone 'who is between them,' if they have an interest in communicating with the Russian authorities we will consider each such request separately and decide whether to agree to such contact or not," Lavrov told Russia’s Izvestia newspaper.

Meeting With Countries of Global Majority

The foreign minister said that he will hold a meeting with the ambassadors of the countries of the Global Majority in April and will voice Moscow's position on the current situation in Ukraine.

"I have already met twice with the ambassadors of the Global Majority in Moscow. Another regular meeting will be held in early April. We will voice our assessment of how the situation around Ukraine is developing," Lavrov told the newspaper.

Solution to Transnistrian Problem

Russia does not rule out that Chisinau is counting on a military solution to the Transnistrian problem, as the Moldovan authorities refused proposals for negotiations in the 5+2 format, the minister pointed out.

"Apparently, Moldova has decided to 'abandon' Transnistria. They refused numerous offers from Transnistria and the Russia to resume negotiations in the 5+2 format. [Moldovan President] Maia Sandu said that they will hold a referendum on joining the European Union without Transnistria. Probably, there is a desire to unite with Romania as soon as possible and through this gain some additional opportunities. Maybe they are counting on a military solution to the Transnistrian problem," the top diplomat said.

Dialogue on Strategic Stability

Russia told the United States that it would be ready to resume dialogue on strategic stability only if equality and the search for a balance of interests were ensured, Lavrov emphasized.

"In the fall of 2023, the United States sent us these signals, as always, unable to resist leaking this information to the media. It was an informal document that we responded to in February. They explained that it is impossible to talk about strategic stability in a situation when we are declared a strategic enemy who needs to be 'strategically defeated," the minister stressed, adding that "Russia... will be ready to resume the dialogue on strategic stability when mutual respect, equality and movement towards finding a balance of interests will be ensured."

Any current discussions about negotiating on such sensitive topics when "war has been declared on Russia," and the US is helping Ukraine "to point modern types of long-range weapons at our civilian and infrastructure facilities" are absurd, the top diplomat concluded.

Support Ceasefire or Israel?

The United States did not oppose the UN Security Council resolution on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in order to save its reputation, but the Washington still extended Israel's carte blanche for actions in Gaza, declaring the resolution non-binding, Lavrov clarified.

On Monday, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for an immediate Ramadan ceasefire in Gaza that leads to a lasting and sustainable ceasefire. The motion was sponsored by the 10 non-permanent members of the council. Fourteen countries voted in favor, while the United States abstained.

"It is good that this resolution has been adopted. But the US passed it, realizing that if it vetoes this one, which is significantly weaker, but at least calls for a cease-fire, then it will generally 'spoil its reputation' in relations with the world majority. But immediately, having adopted this resolution, the US representative to the UN stated that this resolution was not binding. That is, the 'carte blanche' was extended by this," the Russian minister stressed.

Failed Black Sea Navigation Proposals

The minister said proposals from the United Nations and Turkiye related to shipping issues in the Black Sea have so far led to nothing.

“There were such conversations. We heard about them. The UN Secretary General mentioned this. We explained on what conditions we are ready to consider these proposals - on the terms of reciprocity, of course. Because the memorandum of understanding between the Russian Federation and the UN Secretariat, which should be valid for another 18 months, is not being implemented in any of its parts," Lavrov highlighted.

He said the memorandum guarantees that the Secretary General will seek from the West the lifting of sanctions on Russian exports of fertilizers and grain.

“Our position is well known. There were messages and public statements from both the Turkish leadership and the UN. Without going into details, I will say that they did not lead to anything,” the minister said.

United Nations Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told Sputnik that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in February sent letters to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea.

Earlier, Erdogan spoke about the idea of new regulations for the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, jointly with Turkiye and the UN. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said issues of developing the new regulations are being considered, but it cannot be said yet that it will be possible to agree on them.

The Turkiye- and UN-mediated Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed in July 2022, which provided for a humanitarian corridor to allow safe sea exports of Ukrainian and Russian agricultural products and fertilizers, expired July 18, 2023, after Russia refused to extend its participation, citing persistent violation of the package deal's component to facilitate Russian grain and fertilizer exports.

The grain deal was an integral part of a package agreement. The second part - the Russia-UN memorandum, designed for three years - envisioned the unblocking of Russian exports of food and fertilizers, the reconnection of the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to SWIFT, the resumption of supplies of agricultural machinery, spare parts and services, the restoration of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline and a number of other measures. Moscow repeatedly said this part of the package agreement was not being implemented.

Last August, the Ukrainian navy announced the opening of temporary corridors for merchant ships sailing towards or from the ports of Chernomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhny. Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk admitted that it is currently impossible to guarantee the complete safety of ships passing through temporary corridors in the Black Sea.

Russia, West Now Have Almost No Areas With Real Contacts, Cooperation

There are now almost no areas where Russia and the West would have some kind of cooperation and real contacts, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

“There are hardly any,” Lavrov said in an interview with the Izvestia daily in response to a relevant question.

Contacts between security services are usually not made public, he said.

Lavrov said the current relations between Russia and the West are aimed at maintaining the operation of embassies.

“Now all diplomacy with the West is as follows: we still have embassies there, they have embassies in Russia, these embassies and consulates general need to function. Issues of financing the activities of diplomatic missions, purchasing items necessary for their activities, cars, equipment are being discussed. These issues now constitute the main content of our contacts, in particular with the Americans,” he said.

Lavrov said the West has no desire to resume dialogue with Moscow because its goal is to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

“If we take our relations with the West, then no. On that side there is no desire at all to resume equal cooperation. The goal is to punish us, to inflict a 'strategic defeat' on Russia," he said.

* ISIS (also known as Daesh/ISIL/IS/Islamic State) is a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries.