By EUvsDisinfo
In his annual press conference, summing up Russia’s foreign policy performance in the past year, Lavrov provided a series of distorted facts, misleading claims, and outright lies, all designed to deflect attention from Russia’s actions on the global stage.
As Russia’s bloody invasion is coming up on its three-year anniversary, Lavrov claimed that Russia is “not concerned with territorial gain” in Ukraine but rather with the welfare of the people in Ukraine. The preposterous claim is contradicted by the brutal actions Russia has carried out in places like Bucha and Mariupol, where countless civilians have been killed, tortured, and displaced, with entire Ukrainian cities destroyed, lives destroyed and millions of refugees fleeing — proving that Russia’s focus is on destruction, not the welfare of the people it purports to protect.
Crisis in the West, stability in Russia – according to Lavrov
Lavrov also painted a picture of growing criticism among Europe’s populations over continued support for Ukraine. He claimed that this support was causing industries and companies to flee Europe for the US, where energy prices are cheaper. At the same time, the US’s support for Ukraine had led to rising poverty in the US, with poverty “rampant on every street corner.” Such exaggerated claims serve only to shift attention away from the economic and geopolitical consequences of Russia’s actions. Previous allegations about Europe’s economic collapse due to its rejection of Russia’s energy have been debunked before here and here. There is clear evidence that international sanctions are seriously affecting Russia’s economy, as inflation spiked and the ruble plummeted in November 2024 and despite Russian deceptive efforts to portray it as solid.
Lavrov took the opportunity of the global news surrounding Greenland, to warn that the Greenlandic population had to be taken into account, as had been done in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, whose populations supposedly expressed their wishes through national referendums. In fact however, the “referendums” were held illegally, under duress, and on territories which Russia does not even fully control. The results of these sham polls have been universally rejected by leading international and human rights organisations, including the United Nations, the OSCE, NATO, as well as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
The world according to Lavrov: A web of conspiracy
Lavrov claimed that the US had given the green light for “terrorist attacks” on energy infrastructure, including a supposed plot to destroy the “Turkish Stream” pipeline, allegedly orchestrated by Ukrainians. This baseless accusation lacks credible evidence, the US has not supported nor incited such activities, and these statements are simply a diversion from Russia’s own aggressive actions in Ukraine. See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that Nord Stream sabotage indicates loss of European sovereignty, that the US blew up Nord Stream so that the EU would arm Ukraine, that the West rejects investigating the Nord Stream explosions, or that Washington scapegoats Kyiv for Nord Stream explosion to restore relations with Germany.
Lavrov also claimed that the West was “twisting Serbia’s arms” and pressuring President Vucic to turn against Russia. However, this narrative deflects from Russia’s own destabilizing influence in the region. Serbia remains heavily influenced by Russian political and economic interests, and Lavrov’s focus on “Western pressure” ignores the fact that Serbia is a sovereign state making its own choices regarding its future, including its relationships with the EU and NATO. See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that the EU wants to expand its imperialism in the Balkans, that the West has promoted separatism in Yugoslavia, that Pristina is entirely responsible for the tension in Northern Kosovo, or that the West showed double standards with its treatment of Kosovo and Crimea.
Claiming to defend the world order while attacking global norms
As usual, Lavrov advocated for a “fair” global order, championed by “responsible” countries such as Russia and China, purportedly respecting mutual sovereignty among nations. Yet, Russia’s own actions—such as its illegal annexations, military aggression in Ukraine, and support for authoritarian regimes—directly contradict this ideal. Lavrov’s rhetoric about respecting national sovereignty rings hollow, given Russia’s blatant disregard for international law and the sovereignty of its neighbours. See also: The Kremlin’s multipolar order of disinformation.
By EUvsDisinfo
