Lavrov said the current global shift is no longer about Cold War-style bipolar rivalry or the brief ‘unipolar moment’ after the Soviet Union collapsed. “It is precisely multipolarity that now defines the trajectory of global development,” he said, pointing to the rise of China, India and Brazil, as well as economic changes across Africa.
Lavrov on US pressure and Russia trade restrictionsLavrov argued that Washington once acted as the main driver of global finance through the US dollar but is now “objectively losing its economic influence.” He claimed that successive US administrations, including under Donald Trump, used sanctions and trade restrictions to suppress competitors.
“Unfair methods have been used against us – banning Russian oil companies like Lukoil and Rosneft, attempting to control our trade, investment cooperation, and military-technical ties,” he said, adding that partners such as India and other BRICS members have faced pressure.
He described this as part of a broader struggle to maintain an old system built around Western-devised financial institutions and dollar-based trade.Security and Ukraine
Lavrov also framed Russia’s foreign policy around security concerns. He said Moscow’s priority is ensuring national survival, preventing what he called threats along its borders, and protecting Russian-speaking populations in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. He repeated Russia’s position that Western actions have escalated the confrontation.
Sanctions, maritime restrictions, and limits on energy trade were cited as examples of what he called a ‘global economic war’ against Russia.
BRICS cooperation and alternative financial systems
Lavrov said cooperation within BRICS now takes up a growing share of diplomatic work. He highlighted efforts to develop alternative payment platforms, settlements in national currencies, reinsurance systems for trade, and new investment tools. These measures, he said, are not meant as provocation but as safeguards against external restrictions.
He added that India’s chairmanship priorities – including counter-terrorism, energy security and technology cooperation – align with Russia’s view of practical, development-focused cooperation.
Lavrov also pointed to the idea of a broader Eurasian partnership linking regional groups, arguing that economic integration across the continent could form the basis for long-term stability.
