Kathrine Frich
He cast this as a failure to learn from “centuries of history.”
He cast this as a failure to learn from “centuries of history.”
Lavrov’s line in China
Sergei Lavrov used a televised speech to issue a warning to Western capitals.
He framed current pressure as a plan to “punish” Russia and vowed resilience.
The clip, shared by a former Ukrainian interior ministry adviser, quickly spread online.
“Amazed” at the West’s approach
Lavrov said he was “amazed” by what he called the West’s “repeated attempts to restrain, subdue and punish Russia.”
He cast this as a failure to learn from “centuries of history.”
The message was designed to signal resolve and national endurance.
Six words meant to sting
“They messed with the wrong people, you know?” was the sound bite.
It was short, informal, and pointed at the same time.
The phrasing suggested both defiance and a dare to escalate.
Sanctions planners huddle in Washington
While Lavrov spoke, US and European officials met at the US Treasury.
They discussed tighter economic pressure, new oil tariffs, and how to handle immobilised Russian assets.
The session is an example of a coordinated push to from the West to raise the cost of war.
Who was at the table
The US side included the Treasury, the White House, State, and the US Trade Representative.
Europe sent specialists on energy, sanctions, finance, and trade.
The officials planned to reconvene the next day to keep momentum.
Tariffs, oil, and frozen assets
Participants weighed tariff actions linked to Russian oil.
They also examined a common approach to sanctions to avoid loopholes.
Managing Russia’s sovereign assets in Europe remained a sensitive but central topic.
Trump’s parallel track
Donald Trump has pushed for direct talks between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.
He said he expected to speak with Putin “in the next couple of days.”
He admitted the conflict has proved harder to resolve than he first thought.
Missed deadline, lingering war
A Trump‐imposed deadline for Russia to end its invasion has already passed.
He still voiced confidence: “I believe we’re going to get it settled.”
The gulf between rhetoric and battlefield reality remains wide.
