Sergey Lavrov is a preeminent diplomat on the world stage.
Since 2004 as Russia Foreign Affairs Minister, he towers in stature over the likes of interventionist Blinken and likeminded Western counterparts.
In late January, Lavrov explained what the world community of nations knows.
Russia prioritizes peace and stability.
Its ruling authorities abhor wars, wants them avoided, but “won’t allow anyone to trample on our interests or ignore them, either,” Lavrov stressed, adding:
It took over a month for the Biden regime to respond to Russia’s “extremely straightforward proposals” that outlined its sought security guarantees.
Written in unacceptable “Western style,” it “confuse(ed) the issue.”
It ignored what’s most important to Russia’s security.
Its proposals called for “conduct(ing) military exercises further away from the borders on both sides.”
They laid out terms for an “agree(ment) on a critical safe distance between approaching combat aircraft and ships, as well as a number of other confidence-building, deconflicting and de-escalation measures.”
All of the above and what relates to it “were ignored,” said Lavrov, while showing some flexibility on secondary issues.
Since the 1990s, East/West agreements affirmed that no nations should increase their security at the expense of others.
Despite agreeing to this fundamental principle, the US arrogantly spurned it.
The same applies to its broken promise about not expanding NATO eastward toward Russia’s borders.
For hegemon USA and its key NATO partners, agreements are for other nations to observe, not themselves.
Lavrov said that he sent “official requests to” his European counterparts.
He “ask(ed) them directly to clarify how they are going to fulfill, in the current historical circumstances, the obligations that their countries have signed onto at the highest level.”
“These are matters of principle” and the rule of law.
“Before we proceed to discussing individual practical aspects of European security, we want to see the (US-dominated) West wriggle out of it this time.”
Addressing how Russia will respond if the US/West remains hardline on refusing to change its wicked ways with regard to Russia’s security concerns, Lavrov said the following:
Vladimir Putin earlier explained that if the US-dominated West continues to deny Russia the security guarantees it seeks and deserves, they’ll be appropriate response measures taken.
He’ll decide on specific actions “based on proposals submitted by (Russia’s) military (and) other departments.”
If the US-dominated West imposes illegal sanctions that cut off Russia from the financial and economic systems they control, it’ll “be the equivalent to severing relations.”
Russia wants what all nations expect and deserve — respect and “fair treatment” according to the rule of law.
Lavrov drew sharp distinction between Washington’s global empire of bases, its occupation of nations where they don’t belong, and forever wars on invented enemies to how Russia uses its military.
Its forces operate in its own territory.
When sent abroad, it’s in response to a request by a governing authority.
Its actions at home and abroad comply fully with the rule of law.
Hegemon USA-dominated NATO operates exclusively by its own rules extrajudicially.
For weeks and months, interventionist Blinken, other Biden regime officials and their subservient European counterparts “whipp(ed) up hysteria” about Russian threats to Ukraine that don’t exist.
In relations with other countries, Russia’s word is its bond.
Its diplomatic outreach is genuine.
Yet time and again it’s not reciprocated by the US/West.
If their ruling regimes support diplomacy as they hyperventilate about, “start by delivering on what” they agreed on, Lavrov stressed.
At the same time, if they remain hardline by spurning rights guaranteed Russia and other nations by the UN Charter and other international law, Moscow “will not change” its position, Lavrov stressed, adding:
As outlined in the unacceptable Biden regime response to Russia’s sought security guarantees, its position “is based on false premises and a flat-out misrepresentation of the facts.”
“Our position is based on things that everyone has signed onto.”
“I don’t see any room for a compromise here.”
“Otherwise, what are we supposed to talk about if they openly sabotage and misrepresent previous decisions? This will be a key test for us.”
“They will not succeed in dodging the question of why they are not complying with what their presidents signed onto, namely, that it is unacceptable to strengthen one’s security at the expense of the security of others.”
The binding principle cannot be legally reversed by one of its signatories.
Regarding Russia’s relations with most world community nations — including China and Iran — they “act decently in the international arena.”
They “are not trying to unilaterally impose anything on anyone and are always willing to seek mutually acceptable solutions to any issues.”
Their actions on the world stage are polar opposite how the US-dominated West operates.
At this time, Russia continues to discuss the Biden regime’s response to its security concerns internally.
“(W)e have already provided our initial assessments,” said Lavrov, adding:
“It is not satisfactory with regard to the main issue.”
“The West fail(ed) to honor its obligations in terms of indivisibility of security and ignores our interests, although we laid them out in an extremely straightforward and clear way.”
Russia intends to remain firm on the indivisibility of security.
The US-dominated West “shirk(s) its commitments just as it failed to deliver on its commitment not to expand NATO” eastward.
“But then it was a verbal commitment.”
“Now, written commitments are available.”
“Respond to us in writing to our written demands.”
“Explain how you fulfill the written commitments signed by your presidents.”
In public remarks, Lavrov has a deep understanding of most everything geopolitical.
He also demonstrates an astonishing retention of precise facts on virtually any and all issues discussed, including their historical context.
Along with his intellect, he’s likely blessed with a photographic ability to recall facts and figures on a broad array of issues in precise detail.
The Stephen Lendman Blog 