Russia to remain in Middle East, open to contacting Trump administration
(VOVWORLD) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday that Russia will not withdraw from the Middle East, adding that Russia will maintain its embassy in Syria, continue regular contact with the new Syrian government, and support dialogue to help stabilize the situation in Syria.
 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a press confernece, January 14, 2025. (Photo: Sputnik) |
Lavrov said he hopes that the Gulf countries will coordinate with Russia, China, and Iran in resolving the Syrian issue, noting that the Russia-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, which will be signed on Friday during the Iranian president's visit to Russia, is not targeted at any specific country.
Lavrov said that Russia is ready to communicate with US President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, adding that Russia will carefully consider the new administration's stance on global issues, including the situation in Ukraine.
He also said that the Russia-China relationship is increasingly strong and stable as one of the most stable factors in the current international landscape. Lavrov said that Russia is prepared to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, but only on the condition that Russia's own security concerns are addressed, particularly the elimination of threats along its western border.