Sergey Lavrov addresses International Youth Festival in Ekaterinburg

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed the International Youth Festival in Ekaterinburg, discussing the formation of a multipolar world and the current geopolitical landscape. During a session titled ‘New World Architecture: An Open Dialogue with Sergey Lavrov,’ he emphasized the role of the younger generation in building a more equitable global order.

Lavrov issued warnings regarding European security, stating that if Europe were to attack Russia, it would result in a ‘completely different war’ that would be ‘very short.’ He asserted that the deployment of Western military contingents in Ukraine would signify that Europe is declaring direct, rather than hybrid, warfare against Russia.

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Lavrov stated that a resolution requires achieving the goals set at the beginning of the ‘special military operation’ to address the fundamental causes of the crisis. He maintained that Russia has never refused negotiations and remains open to bilateral or trilateral talks at any location acceptable to the participants.