Sun Mar 02 17:01:28 UTC 2025: ## Lavrov Praises Trump’s Pragmatism on Ukraine, Blasts Europe for Prolonging Conflict

**Moscow, March 2, 2025** – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lauded U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to the Ukraine conflict, characterizing it as “common sense” aimed at ending the war. However, Lavrov sharply criticized European powers for allegedly seeking to prolong the hostilities.

In an interview with the Russian military newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda, Lavrov stated that while the U.S. and Russia will always have disagreements, pragmatism should prevail when mutual interests align. He suggested the U.S.-China relationship as a model for future U.S.-Russia relations, emphasizing cooperation on mutually beneficial issues without letting disagreements escalate to war.

Lavrov highlighted Trump’s “common sense” approach, contrasting it with what he described as Europe’s desire to continue the conflict. He accused Europe of historically fueling global conflicts and criticized proposals for European peacekeepers, stating Russia lacks trust in Ukraine following the collapse of the Minsk agreements. He further expressed disapproval of European support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The comments follow a February 12th phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, initiated by Trump, according to Lavrov. Trump has publicly stated his desire to be seen as a peacemaker and has voiced concerns about the conflict escalating into World War III. However, his recent meeting with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office was reportedly tense, with Trump accusing Zelenskyy of disrespecting the U.S. and losing the war.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s 2022 invasion, has created the biggest East-West confrontation since the Cold War. While Russia views the conflict as an existential battle against a declining West, Ukraine and the West see it as an imperial land grab. Currently, Russian forces control nearly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.

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