NATO Troop Presence Will Be a Threat to Russia, Lavrov Says

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the interests of Russia and the United States will never align, and they cannot coincide even by 50%. In an interview with American bloggers, he emphasized, "When interests do align, both sides must do everything to develop those 'similarities' and embody them practically."

Lavrov also noted that the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine, under any flag and in any capacity, including peacekeeping, would pose a threat to Russia. He remarked that Russia knows how to avoid a compromise on the Ukraine issue that would endanger people's fate.