Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at a meeting with leaders of Russian non-profit organizations, described the current standoff with Western countries as an open conflict, arguing that Ukraine is being used as a tool of geopolitical pressure against Russia.

Lavrov said that in the years following the creation of the United Nations and the OSCE, and especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Moscow had seen real prospects for coexistence-and even cooperation-with the West. In his view, those expectations have since collapsed, replaced by what he characterized as an openly declared confrontation in which the Kyiv authorities and the Ukrainian state serve as a forward instrument against Russia.

He stressed that Ukraine would not be able to play such a role without extensive external backing. According to him, this support includes arms supplies, intelligence sharing, the use of satellite systems, and the involvement of Western countries in training Ukrainian forces.

Lavrov also pointed to what he described as a broader effort by Western states to demonize anything associated with Russia. He argued that this narrative is used to justify their policies, including statements about preparing for a potential military confrontation with Russia in the foreseeable future.

At the same time, he said the overarching objective of what he called the collective West remains unchanged: maintaining global dominance. In pursuit of this goal, he claimed, efforts are being made to contain emerging centers of power, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Describing the tools used to achieve these aims, Lavrov listed sanctions pressure-which he labeled незаконным-as well as financial and economic measures such as freezing and seizing state assets of other countries. He added that these actions are accompanied by what he sees as coercive tactics, including threats, blackmail, and the use of military force.