Lavrov U Quotes & Sayings

Russia has done more than any other country to support the independent Ukrainian state, including for many years subsidising its economy through low energy prices. — Sergei Lavrov

There's no room for petty grievances in politics. — Sergei Lavrov

Russia probably knows the true cost of revolutions better than most other countries. — Sergei Lavrov

On September 11, 2001, Russia's then-president, Vladimir Putin, called U.S. President George W. Bush - making Putin the first international leader to speak with Bush after the attacks. — Sergei Lavrov

For years, we have been asking the E.U. to create something similar to the Russia-NATO council. Not in order to simply exchange opinions and work out recommendations, but to make decisions. — Sergei Lavrov

Hours before the Georgian invasion, Russia had been working to secure a United Nations Security Council statement calling for a renunciation of force by both Georgia and South Ossetians. The statement that could have averted bloodshed was blocked by western countries. — Sergei Lavrov

We believe Russian-American relations are broader and larger than emotions and mutual grudges, including the situation with the U.S. fugitive Edward Snowden. — Sergei Lavrov

We are categorically against proliferation of nuclear weapons. — Sergei Lavrov

You cannot defeat Islamic State with airstrikes only. It's necessary to cooperate with ground troops, and the Syrian army is the most efficient and powerful ground force to fight the Islamic State. — Sergei Lavrov

The Americans have taken the course of confrontation and do not assess their own steps critically at all. — Sergei Lavrov

Russia and the U.S. bear a special responsibility in world affairs. We have much to offer the rest of the world. Our common history testifies to this, and modern challenges demand that we work together. — Sergei Lavrov

We have become stronger economically; we have been successfully resolving the social problems, raising the level of living - the standards of living - of the population. — Sergei Lavrov

Regarding the visa-free regime, it has undoubtedly become a problem for the European Union, above all in terms of its capacity to reach agreements. — Sergei Lavrov

People versed in politics need not be told that the devil is in the detail, and tough solutions implying the use of force cannot produce a lasting long-term settlement. — Sergei Lavrov

Conversations with my counterparts in Europe have made clear that many of them recognize NATO's limitations and understand the need for reform. — Sergei Lavrov

Russia and the U.S. must jointly manage expectations to ensure that attempts to 'reset' our relationship succeed. — Sergei Lavrov

A second opinion never hurts, not only in medicine, but also in politics. — Sergei Lavrov

We have certain differences over the ways to pursue our goals, but our final aims coincide, in my opinion. — Sergey Lavrov

All our security now depends on the wise decisions and cooperation of our leaders. — Sergei Lavrov

The jihadists come from many European countries, Russia included, and some even from the United States; hundreds of them - if you take Europe, Russia and the U.S. - are fighting in the ranks of extremist groups. — Sergei Lavrov

Russia is doing all it can to promote early stabilisation in Ukraine. — Sergei Lavrov

The U.S.-led western alliance, while acting as an advocate of democracy, rule of law and human rights, is acting from the opposite position, rejecting the democratic principle of the sovereign right of states enshrined in the U.N. Charter and trying to decide for others what is good and what is bad. — Sergei Lavrov

What we did say is that it is up to the Syrians themselves to decide how to run the country, how to introduce the reforms, what kind reforms, without any outside interference. — Sergei Lavrov

We can only talk to those who opt for the sovereign, territorially integral, secular, multiethnic and multi-confessional Syria. — Sergei Lavrov

Attempts to put pressure on Russia and to compel it to abandon its values, truth and justice have no prospects whatsoever. — Sergei Lavrov

Shouldn't the General Assembly adopt a declaration on the inadmissibility of interference into domestic affairs of sovereign states and nonrecognition of coup d'etats as a method of the change of power? — Sergei Lavrov

Attempts to settle crises by unilateral sanctions outside the framework of U.N. Security Council decisions threaten international peace and stability. Such attempts are counterproductive and contradict the norms and principles of international law. — Sergei Lavrov

If you think that a coup to overthrow the elected government is a coup everywhere, then you should remember how elections in Ukraine took place in 2004, how elections in Georgia took place in 2003, when the elections results have been torn and thrown away by revolutionary action. — Sergei Lavrov

We provide transit facilities, we cooperate in equipping the Afghan army and security forces with arms and helicopters, we cooperate in training officers for law enforcement agencies. — Sergei Lavrov

If you look at U.S. Congress, 80 percent of them have never left the U.S.A., so I'm not surprised about Russophobia in Congress. — Sergei Lavrov

It is absolutely unacceptable to talk to Russia - or anyone for that matter - in the language of ultimatums and coercive measures. — Sergei Lavrov

We are convinced that the only way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue is through negotiations. — Sergei Lavrov

Historical experience shows that a crisis causes either a recovery or catastrophic consequences. — Sergei Lavrov

The West appears to have decided for the Ukrainian people what their choice is. The EU does not condemn violent actions in Ukraine which are punishable in the West. — Sergey Lavrov

Our stand is crystal-clear - we want peace in Ukraine, which can only be attained through broad national dialogue in which all regions and all political forces of the country must participate. — Sergei Lavrov

You cannot strengthen the law by violating the law. — Sergei Lavrov

The international community unfortunately did take sides in Libya, and we would never allow the Security Council to authorise anything similar to what happened in Libya. — Sergei Lavrov

I can only say that I have good personal relations with all secretaries of state with whom I have a chance to work. — Sergei Lavrov

The attempts to distort the truth and to hide the facts behind blanket accusations have been undertaken at all stages of the Ukrainian crisis. — Sergei Lavrov

I wouldn't even go into the history of the last days of the Soviet Union, the withdrawal from Europe, and what promises were given at that time, because those were oral promises, and our leaders of that time strongly believe that, like in ancient Russia, a word given is better than any treaty. — Sergei Lavrov

With regards to the expansion of NATO, I see it as a mistake, even a provocation in a way. — Sergei Lavrov

We have been protecting the lives of the Russian peacekeepers who had been attacked by their Georgian comrades, because there was a joint peacekeeping force. — Sergei Lavrov

If you say that your national law allows you to do something, it is fine as long as you do this inside your own territory. As long as you go international, you really have to be sure that there is an international law which you respect and which you follow. — Sergei Lavrov

The struggle against terrorists in the territory of Syria should be structured in cooperation with the Syrian government, which clearly stated its readiness to join it. — Sergei Lavrov

We believe that this is not right for a democracy to make revolutions the beacon of promoting democracy. — Sergei Lavrov

I hope that the United States would cooperate with the partners to reduce its debt. The debt is a problem. The debt is with you, but unfortunately, the debt is not only with you but with us and with the rest of the world because we all, one way or another, are dependent on the dollar. — Sergei Lavrov

Russia has every reason to dispose of its nuclear arsenal ... to suit its interests and international legal obligations. — Sergei Lavrov

Russia and the U.S. have unique experience in ensuring the safety and security of nuclear material. — Sergei Lavrov

Germany has traditionally played a very constructive role regarding E.U. ties with Russia and the West as a whole with Russia. — Sergei Lavrov

When Ukrainians kill Ukrainians, I believe this is as close to a civil war as you can get. — Sergei Lavrov

Humanitarian issues must bring together all people who act in good faith trying to alleviate the suffering of people in dire need - especially women, children and the elderly. — Sergei Lavrov

If it acts like a terrorist, if it walks like a terrorist, if it fights like a terrorist, it's a terrorist, right? — Sergei Lavrov

The Russian Federation and the United States of America, the two biggest nuclear powers in the world, but apart from nuclear-wise, we have a lot in common. We have huge territories, natural resources, technologies, science, education, and of course human capital. — Sergei Lavrov

The E.U.'s Eastern Partnership programme is designed to bind the so-called focus states tightly to itself, shutting down the possibility of co-operation with Russia. — Sergei Lavrov