Sergey Lavrov is on a trip to Africa. Putin’s foreign minister doubts that the West believes in the “equality of states”.
Khartoum – For a long time it was relatively quiet around one of Vladimir Putin’s chief agitators. But on his trip abroad to Africa, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose descent from respected diplomat to pariah by Putin’s grace seemed almost a done deal, seems to have found his voice again. In a statement during his visit to Sudan, Lavrov, in the shadow of the Ukraine war, railed against the West in his usual manner.
According to Lavrov, “the West doesn’t believe in democracy, otherwise they would leave developing countries alone.” Putin’s foreign minister made the statement at a joint press conference with his Sudanese counterpart, Ali al-Sadiq, in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov attacks the West: “Don’t believe in democracy, in any kind of equality”
The West “gallops around the world trying to convince emerging developing countries of the need to condemn the Russian Federation,” Lavrov attacked the West for his policies.
“Trying to undermine their relationship with Russia speaks for one thing: they don’t believe in democracy, in any equality of nations on the world stage. Otherwise they would leave developing countries alone and respect their right to self-determination in how they behave in world affairs,” continued Foreign Minister Lavrov, who sees Russia in the fight against the entire NATO.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov pokes fun at Western efforts in Africa: ‘We’re hot on our heels’
In addition, Russia’s foreign minister was amused by the West’s diplomatic efforts in Africa. “They seem to be hot on our heels,” Lavrov commented on the trips made by five or six Western diplomats during a visit by a Russian delegation to Mauritania. “When we visited South Africa, a team of western officials came, including [EU-Topdiplomat Josep] Borell, the very next day,” the Russian diplomat continued.
Lavrov further concluded from developments in Africa: “If they’re going to try that hard, they must feel they’re wrong, so they’re reminding countries on different continents that they’re expected to take anti-Russian positions.”
Lavrov on a trip to Africa: Foreign Minister makes serious accusations against the West – “Eliminate a rival on the international stage”
But that’s not all with the allegations. In his statement, Lavrov again referred to the West’s guilt for the outbreak of the Ukraine war. “Had my Western colleagues shown even one-thousandths of the effort they are now making to insist on the immediate implementation of the Minsk Agreement over the past eight years, there would have been no need for our special operation,” Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said .
“However, we now understand that the implementation of the Minsk agreement was never the West’s plan,” Putin’s top diplomat continued. “The plan was to prepare Ukraine for a hybrid war against Russia to eliminate a rival on the international stage.”
Lavrov on a visit to Sudan: Putin’s foreign minister is on a cozy course
Aside from his accusations against the West, Putin’s foreign minister also used his stay to fill the Sudanese government with cloth. According to Lavrov, Moscow believes that “the national dialogue should be conducted solely by the Sudanese themselves and without outside interference, let alone any attempts to dictate to the Sudanese.”
In addition to his renewed criticism of the West, Lavrov went on to stuff diplomatic cloths with Sudan during his statement. “We support Sudan’s fair approach following the UN Security Council’s review of Sudanese affairs,” said Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, who followed up with comparisons to Adolf Hitler and Napoleon at a ceremony marking Diplomat’s Day. “Included in this is the need to lift these restrictions that were put in place a few years ago.”
Russian economy under pressure from sanctions: Foreign Minister Lavrov in search of allies
In the light of the Ukraine war, in which Russia has probably launched another large-scale offensive or is at least preparing it for the anniversary of the invasion, the attacks against the West sound like a daring thesis. On closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that Lavrov’s statements are based on calculation.
Russia’s foreign minister is aware that both the government around President Putin and Russia’s economy are not completely isolated as a result of Western sanctions, but are nevertheless weakened. Despite continuing good business with countries such as China or India, the Kremlin may feel compelled to plunder state and corporate coffers in their own country. Because even the lucrative deals with “Putin’s blood diamonds”, for example, which are still circumventing the EU sanctions, will probably not be enough in the long run to finance the costly Ukraine war. Otherwise, Putin’s defeat might really only be a matter of time.
Against this economic background, too, Russia urgently needs more allies before these sources of income dry up. This is not only clear to Putin, but also to his Foreign Minister Lavrov. And in many African countries, which have innumerable mineral resources, he could possibly find the right contact person with open ears.
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