Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday sharply criticised European Union leaders for questioning China’s and India’s engagement with Moscow, calling such remarks “rude” and “ill-mannered” during a joint press conference in Cairo.
‘Do not interfere’, Lavrov tells Europe
Speaking alongside his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty after bilateral talks, Lavrov said EU leaders had no right to question why countries like China and India maintain dialogue with Russia.
“Those current so-called leaders in the EU who publicly state why China communicates with Russia or why India communicates with Russia—these are rude, ill-mannered people,” he said, advising Europe “not to interfere” in Russia–US discussions on Ukraine.
Lavrov stressed that Moscow’s position on a Ukraine settlement was not subject to “opportunistic considerations or fluctuations”.
Russia–US dialogue ‘remains in force’
Lavrov said dialogue between Moscow and Washington was based on a “solid understanding” reached during the Russia–US summit in Alaska in August. He added there was no reason to believe the US administration would deviate from this position, noting that the framework was rooted in proposals by Donald Trump and his negotiating team.
“We feel the support of the global majority,” Lavrov said, adding that many countries welcomed Russia–US efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict and hoped they would yield tangible results.
His comments came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced fresh talks with the US, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was preparing “relevant contacts” with Washington over a revised peace plan. Earlier discussions reportedly involved a 28-point draft requiring significant concessions from Ukraine, including limits on its military and NATO ambitions.
Putin ‘open to contact’ with Macron
Lavrov also said Russian President Vladimir Putin was ready to speak with French President Emmanuel Macron, if approached respectfully. The remark followed Macron’s statement after an EU summit that it may again be “useful” to engage directly with Moscow.
“If he is ready to talk, our president is always open to contact, but with the understanding that these will be polite people with some basic decency,” Lavrov said.
Egypt–Russia ties and regional issues
Lavrov said talks with Abdelatty covered expanding direct flights, strengthening food and fuel supply chains, and developments in Sudan and Libya. Abdelatty, in turn, said Egypt and Russia were keen to accelerate joint projects, including the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant and the industrial zone in the Suez Canal region.
On Ukraine, the Egyptian minister said Cairo was ready to support international efforts aimed at narrowing differences and achieving a political settlement.