🎙 Key takeaways from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with Channel One’s Bolshaya Igra show (Moscow, 8 September 2026) • Europe made no secret of its main goal: to prevent the Americans from implementing their proposal [made during the Anchorage summit], which had been accepted by President Vladimir Putin, in its original, unamended form. That was precisely what Europe sought. • The Europeans had the opportunity to adopt a position on Ukraine as sensible and responsible as that of the Trump administration, i.e. to consider the actual facts and developments on the ground, including the views of the local population. Instead, they are clinging onto a stance that will be very difficult to change. Time and again, they declare that Russia must suffer a "strategic defeat". • On the one hand, Western politicians say that Russia is losing, which is why Ukraine must be supported in every possible way. This will help Ukraine to win. At the same time, however, they believe that Russia, which is supposedly on the losing side, is preparing to attack Europe. It is not serious for politicians to talk this nonsense. • Our response to terrorist attacks on peaceful civilian infrastructure deep within Russian territory began some time ago and, as the Ukrainians have admitted, has proven to be considerably more punishing for them. This also explains why the West is currently calling for a ceasefire with such urgency. Read the full interview here