Russia’s Lavrov Applauds Trump’s Stance on Ukraine Conflict
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has praised former U.S. President Donald Trump for his remarks on the ongoing Ukraine crisis, crediting him as one of the few Western figures to openly address NATO’s role in the situation.
Trump, who has consistently blamed the war on President Joe Biden’s administration, maintains that the conflict would have never started under his leadership.
“He is the first, and so far the only, Western leader who has clearly stated that a key factor in the Ukraine conflict was the previous administration’s push to bring Kyiv into NATO,” Lavrov told Russian lawmakers during a session at the State Duma.
His comments come shortly after a rare meeting between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia—marking their first high-level talks in over three years.
Concerns Over Trump’s Position on Ukraine
Trump’s views on the war have raised concerns in Ukraine, where leaders fear his approach could shift U.S. support and force them into making major concessions in peace negotiations.
Since returning to the political stage, Trump has taken a new stance on U.S. foreign policy, tying assistance for Ukraine to access to its valuable mineral resources. He has also echoed sentiments from Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding NATO’s role in escalating tensions.
Speaking at a press conference in January, just days before his inauguration, Trump pointed to Biden’s decision to support Ukraine’s NATO ambitions as a significant trigger for the conflict.
“For years, Russia—long before Putin—made it clear that NATO could never expand into Ukraine,” Trump stated on January 7. “Then, at some point, Biden said, ‘No, they should be able to join NATO.’ Well, now Russia has NATO right on its doorstep, and I can understand why they’d be concerned about that.”
With tensions still high, the world watches closely to see how shifting U.S. policies will impact the course of the war and future diplomatic efforts.
