Lavrov's Criticism: Washington Imposes Sanctions First, Then Engages in Negotiations

Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, commented on Wednesday, September 12, that American officials resort to sanctions before entering negotiations, criticizing such foreign policy. Part of these sanctions relates to the poisoning case of a former spy in Britain, a case that Vladimir Putin referred to on Wednesday, introducing the suspects as unconnected to the Russian government. This comes as Theresa May, the British Prime Minister, previously stated that her government concluded that the suspects in the attack are Russian security agents acting with the approval of 'high levels in the Russian government.' According to AFP, Lavrov, speaking on the sidelines of an economic forum in Vladivostok, stated: 'In most cases, the United States is not very willing to negotiate.' He then referred to Washington officials, saying: 'First, they announce sanctions, then they impose more sanctions, and only after that do they open the door to negotiations.' He noted that such policies 'are unlikely to lead to success in the long term.' The Russian Foreign Minister continued that his reference is not only to U.S.-Russia relations, which he described as currently the 'most toxic' form, but added that this pattern can also be observed in America's relations with North Korea, the European Union, and China. Since annexing Crimea in 2014 and supporting separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, Moscow has provoked anger from Kyiv and the West, facing increasing sanctions and punitive measures. In recent months, the United States has also imposed new sanctions related to allegations of Russian interference in the U.S. presidential elections and the poisoning of a former spy in Britain. These sanctions include halting foreign aid to Russia, blocking the sale of defense items or services, and cutting and prohibiting any government credit for exports to Russia. Sergey Skripal, a former double agent who came to Britain in 2010 as part of a spy swap, was found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury, England, along with his daughter Yulia. British authorities say Mr. Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with Novichok, a military-grade chemical produced during the Soviet era, and hold the Russian government responsible for the attack. Russia has denied involvement in this incident, but the diplomatic dispute over this case has led to sanctions against Russia and the expulsion of over 150 Russian diplomats from several Western countries. The British prosecution announced last week that charges have been filed against two Russian men named Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, who are security agents acting with the approval of 'high levels in the Russian government.' In response to this news, Vladimir Putin stated on Wednesday that Russia has identified the two individuals sought by Britain and has encountered 'no criminal case' against them. Putin, speaking at the Vladivostok Economic Forum, emphasized that these two individuals are civilians and added that 'their identities are clear to us, we have found them. There is no specific or criminal case against them, I can assure you.'