Transcript

Lavrov's Answers to the Program \"Moscow. Kremlin. Putin\

2026-02-01 RU · EN (house translation, pending review) Source Digest Readout

English includes full house translations. Review is pending; untranslated passages and selected digest glosses remain labelled.

Русский	English
1 Europe's Self-Inflicted Trap and Dependence on the US
Вопрос: Можно Вас спросить про отношения США и Европы? Там такое происходит… Получается, европейцы загнали себя в ловушку, отрезав все контакты с Россией, а теперь полностью зависят от США, которые делают с ними то, что делают? С.В.Лавров: Это не наш вопрос. Как говорится, если получаешь удовольствие, то это твоя проблема. Нас трудно обвинить в том, что мы «вбивали клинья».	Full house translation — pending review Question: May I ask you about relations between the United States and Europe? So much is happening there… Does this mean that the Europeans have trapped themselves by cutting off all contacts with Russia and now depend entirely on the United States, which is doing to them what it is doing? S. V. Lavrov: That is not our concern. As they say, if you enjoy it, that is your problem. It is hard to accuse us of “driving wedges.”
2 Who Is Really "Driving Wedges" — Russia or Europe
Это Европа пыталась и пытается до сих пор «вбивать клинья» между Россией и США, усматривая в политике США при Президенте Д.Трампе, как они считают, «крен» в пользу России и в ущерб интересам Европы. Слово «интересы» здесь как раз актуально. Когда страна, как это делает Россия, наши друзья в Китае, ОАЭ, Индии, в других государствах, отстаивает свои интересы, к ней и относятся соответственно.	Full house translation — pending review It was Europe that tried, and is still trying, to “drive wedges” between Russia and the United States, seeing in US policy under President D. Trump what they consider a “tilt” in Russia's favor and to the detriment of Europe's interests. The word “interests” is precisely what is relevant here. When a country defends its interests, as Russia does, as our friends in China, the UAE, India and other states do, it is treated accordingly.
4 European Elites Subordinated to the "Ukrainian Regime" and Preparing for War
Но когда, как в случае с большинством европейских элит, они свои интересы поменяли на интересы украинского режима, всячески его используют, чтобы уже не скрывая воевать против России, и напрямую готовятся к войне со своим участием, наверное, тогда к ним и отношение будет такое. Уже вспоминал, как мы встречались в феврале 2025 г. в Эр-Рияде с Государственным секретарем США М.Рубио. Он тогда сказал, презентуя позицию администрации Президента США Д.Трампа, что задача – руководствоваться национальными интересами.	Full house translation — pending review But when, as is the case with most European elites, they have traded their own interests for the interests of the Ukrainian regime, use it in every possible way to wage war against Russia without even concealing it anymore, and are directly preparing for a war in which they themselves will participate, then they will probably be treated accordingly. I have already recalled how we met with US Secretary of State M. Rubio in Riyadh in February 2025. Presenting the position of US President D. Trump's administration, he said then that the objective was to be guided by national interests.
3 The Doctrine of National Interests and the Rubio "Riyadh" Formula
Дескать, США всегда будут уважать позицию других крупных держав, которые тоже выстраивают свои действия на основе национальных интересов. М.Рубио добавил тогда, что далеко не всегда у таких крупных стран, как Россия и США, национальные интересы будут совпадать, но, когда они совпадают, будет ошибкой не использовать это совпадение для того, чтобы реализовывать взаимовыгодные экономические, торговые, инвестиционные проекты.	Full house translation — pending review He said that the United States would always respect the position of other major powers that also base their actions on national interests. M. Rubio added then that the national interests of such major countries as Russia and the United States would by no means always coincide, but when they do, it would be a mistake not to use that convergence to implement mutually beneficial economic, trade and investment projects.
5 The Greenland Double Standard and Lavrov's Deflection
А когда они не совпадают, будет уже не ошибкой, а преступлением позволить этому несовпадению деградировать в конфронтацию, тем более в горячую. Исходим из этого. Что касается того, как выстраиваются отношения между Европой и США, то мы никогда не вмешиваемся в эти процессы. Кто как себя зарекомендовал, так к нему и относятся. Вопрос: Почему с нами-то готовятся воевать, когда у них прямым текстом собираются отобрать Гренландию? Что-то европейцы не вводят в ответ санкции. С.В.Лавров: Не надо меня спрашивать об этом.	Full house translation — pending review And when they do not coincide, it would be not merely a mistake but a crime to allow that divergence to degenerate into confrontation, especially armed confrontation. That is our starting point. As for how relations between Europe and the United States are developing, we never interfere in these processes. People are treated according to how they have shown themselves to be. Question: Why are they preparing to fight us when they are being told outright that Greenland is going to be taken away from them? The Europeans do not seem to be imposing sanctions in response. S. V. Lavrov: You should not ask me about that.
Постарайтесь договориться с ними, с кем-то из их СМИ. У них кое-какие корреспонденты здесь есть. Попытайте их на эту тему.	Full house translation — pending review Try to arrange something with them, with someone from their media. They have some correspondents here. Question them on this subject.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified Question: Can I ask you about relations between the United States and Europe? A great deal seems to be going on there. Have the Europeans backed themselves into a corner by cutting off all contacts with Russia and now becoming fully dependent on the United States, which is free to treat them as it sees fit? Sergey Lavrov: That is not our problem. As the saying goes, if you are enjoying it, then it’s your own business.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified It would be difficult to accuse us of “driving wedges.” It is Europe that has tried – and continues to try – to drive wedges between Russia and the United States, interpreting US policy under President Donald Trump as what they see as a tilt in Russia’s favour and to the detriment of European interests. The word “interests” is a key here. When a country defends its own interests– as Russia does, as our friends in China, the UAE, India and others do – it is treated accordingly.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified But when, as in the case of most European elites, their own interests have been traded away for those of the Ukrainian regime, which they are exploiting in every possible way in order to wage an undeclared war against Russia and are now openly preparing for direct involvement themselves, then the attitude towards them will inevitably be different. I have already mentioned our meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh in February 2025.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified Presenting the Trump administration’s position, he said that the guiding principle must be national interests. The United States, he said, would always respect the position of other major powers that also base their actions on national interests. Mr Rubio added that the national interests of major countries such as Russia and the United States would not always coincide. But when they do, it would be a mistake not to use that convergence to pursue mutually beneficial economic, trade and investment projects.
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified And when they do not coincide, it would not merely be a mistake but a crime to allow those differences to degenerate into confrontation, let alone a hot conflict. That is the approach we proceed from. As for how relations between Europe and the United States are being built, we never interfere in those processes. Everyone gets the treatment they deserve. Question: But why are they getting ready to go to war with us, when Greenland is on the verge of being taken away from them?
Matching Russian passage has not been identified	Cached English source — passage alignment not verified The Europeans don’t seem to be imposing any sanctions in response. Sergey Lavrov: Don’t ask me about that. Try talking to them – perhaps through their media outlets. They do have a few correspondents here in Moscow. Ask them that question.