The Kremlin seeks to engage the U.S. on terms favorable to Russia, according to ISW.

The authorities of the Russian Federation are attempting to shape the external policy of the United States so that Washington engages on terms favorable to Moscow. At the same time, the U.S. must not concede to any of the Kremlin's objectives in Ukraine and globally.

This information comes from RBK-Ukraine, referencing the report by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

In an interview released on December 5, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the Kremlin desires "normal" relations with the United States, reiterating long-standing Kremlin rhetoric while attempting to blame the U.S. and NATO for undermining relations with Russia.

ISW noted that Lavrov's statements largely aligned with the assertions made by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on November 7, which also called for a reset of relations between the U.S. and Russia on Russian terms.

Lavrov further emphasized that the Kremlin remains unwilling to negotiate on any terms other than its own. He falsely claimed that Russia wishes to end the war in Ukraine based on the UN Charter.

ISW reminded that this is despite the fact that Moscow continues to violate the UN Charter by waging its illegal aggressive war against Ukraine, infringing on Ukrainian sovereignty, territorial integrity, and previous agreements between Russia and Ukraine.

Simultaneously, Lavrov dismissed any notion of withdrawing Russian troops from occupied Ukraine and falsely asserted that Russia is not attempting to "exterminate" the Ukrainian people.

"Lavrov's statements are part of the Kremlin's ongoing efforts to shape American foreign policy so that the U.S. interacts with Russia on terms favorable to the Kremlin. Meanwhile, Putin is not offering any concessions to the United States and does not yield any of the Kremlin's maximalist goals both in Ukraine and around the world," the ISW report states.

Cunning Rhetoric of the Kremlin

The head of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry humorously responded to Lavrov's speech during the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting on December 4-5 in Malta, calling it "evidence from a parallel universe."

Recently, American journalist Tucker Carlson published an interview with Lavrov, in which the Russian Foreign Minister outlined a series of conditions for ending the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Putin announced the signing of a new security guarantee treaty with Belarus. He does not rule out the placement of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, a request he made to Lukashenko.