Lavrov Says Ukraine Could Have Kept 1991 Borders 'If Europeans Hadn't Cheated'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Ukraine could have retained its 1991 borders had European countries not, in his words, "cheated," according to a report by Russian state news agency TASS.

Lavrov reportedly argued that European nations had failed to suppress what he described as an "age-old instinct" to pursue their objectives through dishonest or unlawful means, remarks that reflect Moscow's long-standing position on the roots of the conflict with Ukraine.

Part of a Broader Narrative

The comments align with statements Russian officials have repeatedly made since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, in which Moscow has placed responsibility for the conflict on Western and European actions rather than on its own military intervention.

Ukraine and its Western allies have consistently rejected such characterizations, maintaining that Russia's invasion violated Ukraine's sovereignty and internationally recognized borders, including those dating to 1991.

Lavrov's remarks, as reported by TASS, come amid continued diplomatic activity surrounding the war, with Western nations continuing to provide Ukraine with military and economic support while Moscow maintains its position that European involvement bears responsibility for the current state of the conflict.