Blab Politics
Lavrov Calls for Clarification on U.S. Position as Russia Expands Ties with ASEAN Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict
On July 22, 2026, Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov stepped onto the stage at a press conference in Moscow after a series of meetings with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He used the forum to touch on a wide array of issues—from the war in Ukraine to the Middle East, nuclear proliferation, and the security landscape of Asia.
Lavrov reiterated that Moscow still believes Washington has not abandoned the understandings reached in Anchorage in August 2025, when President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump met. He pointed out that the talks produced an agreement on key points that could pave the way for a lasting settlement, rather than a temporary ceasefire. According to Lavrov, Russia views the Anchorage proposals as a foundation for further negotiations.
In a follow‑up move, the foreign minister said he would seek clarification on Washington’s current stance during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday. He also added that most ASEAN members share Russia’s view that the Ukraine conflict can only be resolved by addressing its root causes.
Lavrov took aim at what he described as U.S. hypocrisy. He accused Washington of claiming that Russia and China were arming Iran for retaliatory strikes on U.S. military facilities while the U.S. was directly involved in Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory. He contrasted the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran with U.S. support for Kyiv, noting that European Union‑funded arms, intelligence, and the Starlink system were “directly guiding Ukrainian weapons toward targets, including civilian targets, on Russian territory.”
He further criticized the EU’s focus on rearmament at the expense of social and economic needs, saying Moscow is adjusting its planning in response to Europe’s growing militarization. Lavrov warned that if European countries unite under familiar banners and attack Russia, the conflict would become more than a conventional war.
Regarding U.S.–Iran hostilities, Lavrov said the situation is not in either country’s interest and that its end remains uncertain. He cited Washington’s repeated declarations that the crisis had been resolved and the Strait of Hormuz reopened, only for the waterway to close again. He also mentioned conflicting interpretations of a U.S.–Iran memorandum, Israel’s claim that it was not bound by the agreement, and Trump’s later statement that the document had been canceled.
Lavrov said unnamed parties were encouraging both sides to prolong the fighting, but that Russia was not among them. He emphasized that Moscow wants the conflict to end because of its impact on the global economy and rejected suggestions that Russia should welcome oil prices above $90 per barrel, preferring stable energy prices that allow long‑term economic planning.
He warned that a U.S.–Israeli attack on Iran could persuade more countries that nuclear weapons are the only reliable guarantee of sovereignty. Lavrov noted that before the war the International Atomic Energy Agency had found no evidence that Iran was diverting its civilian nuclear program for military purposes, and compared Iran’s fate to Iraq and Libya, which abandoned weapons programs but were still attacked by Western powers.
Citing Russian intelligence reports that Germany could be developing its own nuclear weapons, Lavrov expressed serious concern. He said Russia no longer supports calls to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Given increased U.S.-led military exercises and intensifying activity in the region, he said North Korea sees no alternative to nuclear weapons for safeguarding its sovereignty. Moscow fully supports Pyongyang’s efforts to strengthen its defensive capabilities and understands its position.
Lavrov highlighted debates in Japan over revising the country’s non‑nuclear principles as a serious signal, linked to the expanding nuclear component of U.S.–South Korean military exercises.
He noted that Western countries have used sanctions, tariffs, and restrictions to exert pressure. In response, Russia and its partners are expanding settlements in national currencies and discussing alternative financial platforms that would be less vulnerable to outside pressure.
Lavrov warned that exclusive U.S.-backed security groupings in the Indo‑Pacific are trying to undermine ASEAN’s central role and replace its consensus‑based approach with bloc politics aimed at containing China and sidelining Russia.
Russia and ASEAN members broadly share a commitment to a multipolar international system based on equality, mutual benefit, and respect for national sovereignty. Lavrov highlighted plans to deepen practical cooperation between Russia and ASEAN. Trade between the two sides reached around $22 billion last year, and they intend to double that figure by 2036 through closer ties in technology, energy, space, maritime cooperation, food security, counter‑terrorism, and humanitarian exchanges.
The press conference ended with Lavrov reiterating Russia’s willingness to pursue a negotiated settlement in Ukraine while expanding economic and political cooperation with Southeast Asian countries. The next steps include his meeting with Secretary of State Rubio, ongoing discussions with ASEAN members, and continued monitoring of U.S. policy toward Iran and the broader Indo‑Pacific region.
Lavrov reiterated that Moscow still believes Washington has not abandoned the understandings reached in Anchorage in August 2025, when President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump met. He pointed out that the talks produced an agreement on key points that could pave the way for a lasting settlement, rather than a temporary ceasefire. According to Lavrov, Russia views the Anchorage proposals as a foundation for further negotiations.
In a follow‑up move, the foreign minister said he would seek clarification on Washington’s current stance during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday. He also added that most ASEAN members share Russia’s view that the Ukraine conflict can only be resolved by addressing its root causes.
Lavrov took aim at what he described as U.S. hypocrisy. He accused Washington of claiming that Russia and China were arming Iran for retaliatory strikes on U.S. military facilities while the U.S. was directly involved in Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory. He contrasted the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran with U.S. support for Kyiv, noting that European Union‑funded arms, intelligence, and the Starlink system were “directly guiding Ukrainian weapons toward targets, including civilian targets, on Russian territory.”
He further criticized the EU’s focus on rearmament at the expense of social and economic needs, saying Moscow is adjusting its planning in response to Europe’s growing militarization. Lavrov warned that if European countries unite under familiar banners and attack Russia, the conflict would become more than a conventional war.
Regarding U.S.–Iran hostilities, Lavrov said the situation is not in either country’s interest and that its end remains uncertain. He cited Washington’s repeated declarations that the crisis had been resolved and the Strait of Hormuz reopened, only for the waterway to close again. He also mentioned conflicting interpretations of a U.S.–Iran memorandum, Israel’s claim that it was not bound by the agreement, and Trump’s later statement that the document had been canceled.
Lavrov said unnamed parties were encouraging both sides to prolong the fighting, but that Russia was not among them. He emphasized that Moscow wants the conflict to end because of its impact on the global economy and rejected suggestions that Russia should welcome oil prices above $90 per barrel, preferring stable energy prices that allow long‑term economic planning.
He warned that a U.S.–Israeli attack on Iran could persuade more countries that nuclear weapons are the only reliable guarantee of sovereignty. Lavrov noted that before the war the International Atomic Energy Agency had found no evidence that Iran was diverting its civilian nuclear program for military purposes, and compared Iran’s fate to Iraq and Libya, which abandoned weapons programs but were still attacked by Western powers.
Citing Russian intelligence reports that Germany could be developing its own nuclear weapons, Lavrov expressed serious concern. He said Russia no longer supports calls to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Given increased U.S.-led military exercises and intensifying activity in the region, he said North Korea sees no alternative to nuclear weapons for safeguarding its sovereignty. Moscow fully supports Pyongyang’s efforts to strengthen its defensive capabilities and understands its position.
Lavrov highlighted debates in Japan over revising the country’s non‑nuclear principles as a serious signal, linked to the expanding nuclear component of U.S.–South Korean military exercises.
He noted that Western countries have used sanctions, tariffs, and restrictions to exert pressure. In response, Russia and its partners are expanding settlements in national currencies and discussing alternative financial platforms that would be less vulnerable to outside pressure.
Lavrov warned that exclusive U.S.-backed security groupings in the Indo‑Pacific are trying to undermine ASEAN’s central role and replace its consensus‑based approach with bloc politics aimed at containing China and sidelining Russia.
Russia and ASEAN members broadly share a commitment to a multipolar international system based on equality, mutual benefit, and respect for national sovereignty. Lavrov highlighted plans to deepen practical cooperation between Russia and ASEAN. Trade between the two sides reached around $22 billion last year, and they intend to double that figure by 2036 through closer ties in technology, energy, space, maritime cooperation, food security, counter‑terrorism, and humanitarian exchanges.
The press conference ended with Lavrov reiterating Russia’s willingness to pursue a negotiated settlement in Ukraine while expanding economic and political cooperation with Southeast Asian countries. The next steps include his meeting with Secretary of State Rubio, ongoing discussions with ASEAN members, and continued monitoring of U.S. policy toward Iran and the broader Indo‑Pacific region.
