Why Russia and the U.S. Will Never See Eye-to-Eye

Sergey Lavrov, the former Foreign Minister of Russia, believes that Russia’s goals will never match those of the United States. He welcomed Donald Trump’s return as president, calling it a “return to normalcy.” Lavrov made these comments after the U.S. and Ukraine agreed on a ceasefire in their conflict with Russia.

On March 11, 2025, leaders from the U.S. and Ukraine met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss a 30-day ceasefire, waiting for Russia’s reply. In a recent interview with a group of American bloggers, Lavrov said that with Trump back in power, things are turning back to normal. He mentioned that the reactions he sees in media and politics worldwide are interesting.

Lavrov also discussed a meeting in Riyadh, where U.S. officials expressed a desire to improve relations with Russia based on each country’s interests. He noted that the U.S. and Russia will never fully agree on their goals, but they should work together when interests do align. However, they must also prevent disagreements from escalating into military confrontations, which could harm many nations.

When asked why Russia attacked Ukraine, Lavrov repeated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s view. He claims that the military operation began because all diplomatic efforts over ten years failed after a political crisis in Ukraine. Lavrov thinks the U.S. will not leave NATO, despite what some may speculate about Trump’s views on security guarantees for Ukraine.

Russia argues that the attack on Ukraine was prompted by President Zelenskyy’s plans to join NATO, which they see as unacceptable. Lavrov insists that Trump believes the war in Ukraine should never have started, saying it goes against Ukraine’s own history and Constitution, which promised neutrality and respect for minorities.

Lavrov also touched on the growing relationship between Russia and China, stating that the U.S. must understand that Russia will keep its commitments to China.