Lavrov Considers U.S. Sanctions Against Russia To Be Schizophrenic

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented on the statements made by certain U.S. officials in an interview with RIA Novosti, citing the remarks of White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. “Some statements made by Washington figures even sound somewhat schizophrenic. Recently, the official representative of the White House stated that sanctions against Russia will continue, that they are providing approximately the effect desired by Washington, and that the goal of the sanctions is to reduce the tension in U.S.-Russia relations,” Lavrov said.

Psaki made the relevant statement during a briefing at the White House on April 26. The Russian Foreign Minister noted that he could not even comment on it. “I hope it is clear to everyone that such statements do not bring honor to those who support such political stances from the White House,” he added.

Lavrov believes that while the “Cold War” era was undoubtedly very tense and fraught with risk, there was mutual respect, which is now noticeably lacking. The Russian Foreign Minister stated that he reads opposition online platforms and newspapers, claiming that freedom of speech in Russia is much better protected than in Western countries, including the U.S. He dismissed criticisms of Russian diplomacy made by the opposition in Russia.

“These people have the right to express their opinion, which is as follows: if we had not been at odds with the West, we would now have parmesan and many other things that we are truly missing,” Lavrov replied to accusations that Russian diplomacy is often criticized by opposition circles in Russia. “You know, that is a narrow and one-sided view, exclusively from the perspective of welfare—choosing between a television and a refrigerator. That is the language they speak. If they consider the U.S. perception of values so principled, let me remind them of the words of what I consider to be the greatest U.S. president, John Kennedy: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.’ This is radically different from the current liberal views, where only personal welfare and self-perception matter,” the minister added.

According to Lavrov, those who promote such philosophical approaches are not just misunderstanding the genetic code of Russians but are trying in every way to undermine it. “Because beyond the desire for living well, being full, and wanting peace for children, friends, and relatives, our country has always had a sense of national pride that has played a significant role in everything that has been done during our millennial history. If anyone thinks that these values no longer matter to them, that is their choice,” he noted. Lavrov is convinced that the vast majority of his people think differently.