Lavrov: Western sanctions caused trillions in losses for Europe, Russia redirected 80 percent of exports

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov wrote an article arguing that Western sanctions have backfired spectacularly. He said the European Union was once Russia's top commercial partner, generating roughly 40 percent of its foreign trade.

Lavrov claimed Brussels severed these ties in breach of EU member states' obligations under long-term contracts. He said European elites proudly declared that punishing Russia was their overriding priority.

“We, for our part, have suffered no significant losses, having redirected our trade towards the markets of the Global Majority, which enthusiastically absorb 80% of Russian exports, including 70% in Asia.”

The minister argued that illegitimate sanctions inflicted trillions in losses on Europe, fueled inflation in the United States, and reduced living standards in many countries. He insisted Russia suffered no significant losses.

Lavrov said Moscow redirected trade toward Global Majority markets, which enthusiastically absorb 80 percent of Russian exports, including 70 percent in Asia. He also stated that Russia delivered 320 billion dollars worth of energy resources to European buyers since 2022.

He described terrorism against critical infrastructure as becoming ordinary, citing the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines under the curatorship of London. Lavrov linked the West's war against Russia to the 2014 coup in Kyiv.

Lavrov emphasized that the world majority retains a demand for mutually beneficial and equal cooperation. He said Moscow does not use the economy to settle geopolitical scores or fight competitors positionally.