Lavrov: Russia open to dialogue with West but cautious after past lessons

Russia remains open to dialogue with Western countries, though it has taken significant lessons from their perceived unreliability, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. 

Speaking at the international symposium "Creating the Future," Lavrov commented on Russia's stance towards interaction with the West despite strained relations, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Minister stated that they are not closing themselves off from dialogue with the West, although they have certainly drawn the necessary conclusions.

"We are not shutting off dialogue with the West, although we have certainly drawn the necessary conclusions from how our Western neighbours suddenly abandoned their promises and commitments, disregarded all agreements with us, showed their manners, and undermined trust in themselves," Lavrov stressed.

He went on to emphasise that countries within the Eurasian continent should be free to determine their own future without external interference. He suggested that a unified Eurasian approach could contribute to building a sustainable, multipolar world order.

"If and when they [Western countries] are mature enough to renew contact and establish relations on principles of mutual respect and a fair balance of interests, we will then decide how to respond to such proposals," Lavrov concluded, noting that any decisions would be based on Russia's national interests rather than "the whims we periodically hear from Western capitals."

By Aghakazim Guliyev