ALWAGHT- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has responded to US President Trump's global trade war, stating that it will bring significant changes to the world.
Addressing the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in southern Turkey, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized that eliminating the root causes of any conflict — including the war in Ukraine — is the only path to a lasting resolution and enduring peace, according to Reuters.
'President Trump was the first, and so far, arguably the only Western leader to repeatedly and firmly declare that drawing Ukraine into NATO was a major mistake,' Lavrov said. 'This is one of the fundamental causes we've highlighted time and again.'
Lavrov’s comments reflect Russia’s longstanding position that NATO’s eastward expansion has been a core driver of tension with the West, particularly in the context of Ukraine. By pointing to Trump's earlier criticisms of NATO’s approach, Lavrov aimed to draw a distinction between Trump and other Western leaders who have supported Ukraine’s closer ties to the alliance.
“We have consistently warned that pushing Ukraine toward NATO membership would provoke serious geopolitical consequences,” Lavrov added. “This is not just our view — it’s a concern that, as President Trump noted, was overlooked by many in the West.”
The Russian foreign minister’s remarks come amid ongoing international debates about how to end the conflict in Ukraine, with Moscow frequently accusing the West of fueling the war through military aid and political support for Kyiv.
At the Antalya forum, Lavrov reiterated that any genuine peace effort must involve addressing these deeper issues, not just temporary ceasefires or diplomatic gestures.
