The message from Moscow is clear... as negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the US continue to resolve the Ukrainian issue. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the US of hypocrisy and threatened to "bury" the "spirit of Anchorage"—the set of agreements reached by Presidents Putin and Trump in Alaska—unless the Trump administration settles the Ukrainian issue "manfully."
Lavrov has reportedly "gone off" against the US and President Trump, although analysts do not rule out that these actions are part of a broader strategy, given that other top Russian officials, such as Kirill Dmitriev, are working feverishly to restore Russian-American relations to secure an economic deal.
The end of the era of expectations
In an interview with the TV BRICS network, Sergey Lavrov referred to the absence of a "bright future" in relations with the US and signaled the end of an entire era of expectations that had begun even before 2021. If we recall the Anchorage meeting, which was considered an attempt to establish at least basic rules of the game, today we see the final deconstruction of those hopes.
Lavrov unloads
In his statements today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attacked the US once again, arguing that Trump does not seek to divide the world into zones of influence but wants to promote US interests across the entire planet. As he said, the US does not particularly hide that they want to solve problems in Europe to focus on confronting China.
Indeed, Lavrov underlined that Trump contacted all countries buying oil and natural gas from Russia because he wants to dominate the global energy market. "Now we know that Trump had contact with all countries buying Russian oil and gas: with India, after which he announced that India would not buy Russian oil. India did not confirm this. But the goal that exists is to dominate the energy market on a global scale," said the Russian Foreign Minister, who claimed that Europe intends to increase the military power of Ukraine's armed forces after the end of the conflict with Russia.
Lavrov also reminded that the security guarantees achieved in Istanbul for Ukraine were canceled by Kyiv under the influence of the British and Ukrainians, emphasizing that the form of security guarantees proposed by the Europeans aims to maintain Ukraine's ability to create threats against Russia rather than achieving real security.
Over 22,000 restrictive measures
Currently, over 22,000 restrictive measures have been imposed against Russia, making it the most sanctioned country in world history. The number of new restrictions has not only failed to decrease but clearly aims at the strangulation of entire sectors of the economy.
Energy war
American pressure on the Russian energy sector has taken on particular intensity. If five years ago sanctions were presented by Washington as a temporary tool of political influence, today's attack on projects like Arctic LNG-2 resembles full-scale economic war.
US LNG exports to Europe have increased by over 140% since 2021, essentially displacing Russia under the slogan of energy security. For Moscow, this served as final proof that sanctions will not be revised regardless of the development of the situation in Ukraine. The US refusal to start a dialogue on "unfreezing" approximately 300 billion dollars belonging to Russia confirms this.
"Let's solve it manfully!"
Washington's intervention in Russia's relations with the BRICS countries pushes the conflict far beyond acceptable limits. The financial systems of third countries have been targeted by secondary sanctions, hitting the trade of Russian resources. The US deliberately created an environment in which any cooperation with Russia requires political heroism from partners.
Ukraine has ceased to be an object of negotiation or a "grand bargain." The volume of Western aid to Kyiv, exceeding 175 billion dollars from the US alone, has turned the conflict into a global threat for Moscow. That is why Lavrov's statement about the absence of "bright prospects" is a direct indication that Washington has gone too far in its attempt to inflict defeat on Russia. In essence, it is the burial of both the "spirit of Anchorage" and the very hope that a dialogue for a normal future is possible with today's Western elite.
Internal game and "nothing new"?
There is, however, a different interpretation put forward by representatives of the "pragmatic" wing of the Russian elite. According to this, the harsh statements of the Russian Foreign Minister are an element of a complex internal game of the "Kremlin towers." It is assumed that while Lavrov publicly "buries" relations with the US, other influence groups are trying behind the scenes to probe the ground for an economic agreement.
Particular attention is drawn to the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev. Rumors circulate in analytical circles that Dmitriev has created a parallel diplomatic channel with the US, bypassing the Foreign Ministry, communicating directly with American elites close to Donald Trump. Evidence cited includes his meetings with special envoy Steve Witkoff in Riyadh and Paris in early 2026. It is claimed that Dmitriev, with Western education and experience in the investment field, aims for Lavrov's position, proposing "business" to the Kremlin instead of "conflict."
The 12 trillion plan
Fuel is also added to the fire by the story of the "12 trillion business plan," which Volodymyr Zelensky recently mentioned. This refers to the valuation of critical minerals (lithium, titanium, rare earths) in Ukraine and Russia's new regions. US senators, such as Lindsey Graham, speak openly about a value of 10–12 trillion dollars as the primary stake of the conflict.
However, this interpretation has a serious flaw: it is based on the idea that Vladimir Putin has withdrawn from governance. In reality, the Kremlin's management style shows the opposite. If Lavrov draws "red lines" at the political level, Dmitriev may maintain financial communication channels. Everyone plays their role in a unified game of pressure and deterrence.
Caribbean Crisis 2.0
The Caribbean Crisis (also known as the Cuban Missile Crisis) began with similar failed attempts at dialogue. Then, as today, neither side wanted a nuclear apocalypse, but every "defensive" move was perceived as an attack. Today, NATO expansion and the supply of long-range weapons to Kyiv look to Moscow like the preparation of a "decapitation" strike, dramatically reducing reaction time.
The primary risk of "Caribbean-2" is the loss of political control due to technologies that limit decision-making time to a few minutes. In 1962, the world was saved thanks to Vasily Arkhipov, who refused to launch a nuclear torpedo. Today, however, the degree of automation leaves very little "human margin." Lavrov's public statement about the absence of a future in relations with Washington shows that the timer is ready to start the countdown. Only 85 seconds remain on the "Doomsday Clock" until midnight—the closest point in history.
What does this mean?
The greatest danger is not a conscious desire for world war, but a chain of logical, technically justified steps. If Anchorage has been buried and communication channels operate only for ultimatums, the world becomes a hostage of the military machine. And this time, on the "hypothetical submarine," there might not be a new Vasily Arkhipov to say "no."
Vedomosti: Russia was ready for compromises...
Another message came from Moscow that the Kremlin is not satisfied with the US position in the negotiations for Ukraine, reports the Russian newspaper Vedomosti, citing a source close to the negotiation process. According to the source, Russia at Anchorage was ready for territorial compromises, except for the Donbass (likely referring to Russia's refusal to withdraw demands for the evacuation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the entire Kherson and Zaporizhia regions), and also agreed to change the requirements regarding the strength of the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the war.
"And a condition was the development of broader cooperation with the US, including economic. But for now, Washington does not want to and cannot exercise the required pressure on Kyiv while simultaneously trying to displace Russia from global energy markets and continuing to use sanctions, thus calling into question the significance of the 'spirit of Anchorage'," the source said. In its view, Moscow is still ready to continue negotiations, but taking into account the situation "on the ground" and on the condition of more decisive actions by the US to exert pressure on Ukraine and the European Union. It is reminded that yesterday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made similar statements with allegations toward the United States.
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