Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has issued a pointed warning to U.S. and European leaders, stating that they have “messed with the wrong people” in response to Western efforts to pressure Moscow. His remarks come shortly after Ukrainian forces used British-made missiles against Russian targets, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict.
Lavrov, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, made these comments during a televised address, highlighting what he sees as the West’s repeated failures to learn from history. “What amazes me is that the West still cannot draw any lessons from centuries of history in the context of its repeated attempts to restrain, subdue, and punish Russia,” he said, signaling Russia’s defiance amid growing international pressure.
The warning coincided with a high-level meeting at the U.S. Treasury Department, where American and European officials discussed potential economic measures against Russia. The agenda reportedly included new sanctions, levies on Russian oil imports, strategies for managing frozen Russian sovereign assets, and efforts to maintain a unified approach among Western nations. Key participants included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, officials from the White House, State Department, U.S. Trade Representative’s office, and European delegates focused on energy, finance, and commerce.
The officials are expected to resume talks on Tuesday, as the West seeks coordinated measures to pressure Moscow economically. This diplomatic activity follows U.S. former President Donald Trump’s attempts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. Last month, Trump met with President Putin in Alaska and set an August deadline for the Kremlin to engage in negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—an effort that has yet to yield results.
Trump recently told reporters he expects to speak with Putin in the coming days, expressing confidence that a resolution could still be achieved despite the conflict proving “harder to resolve than anticipated.”
The situation has fueled global concern over potential escalation, with Russia’s recent “Doomsday Radio” broadcast intensifying fears of broader conflict. As tensions rise, Lavrov’s remarks underline Moscow’s firm stance against what it perceives as Western attempts to isolate and punish Russia.
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