The United States is “trying to push us out of global energy markets,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Al Arabiya TV channel on Wednesday, pointing to recent sanctions and pressure on Russia’s oil exports.
Lavrov cited the Trump administration’s sanctions on prominent Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft, and U.S. calls for partners to halt purchases of Russian oil as part of what he described as efforts to exclude Russia from global energy markets. He also referenced actions involving Venezuela in the discussion.
“While the Americans are offering us to settle the conflict in Ukraine and begin mutually beneficial cooperation, they are trying to push us out of global energy markets,” Lavrov said, highlighting what he called discrepancies between U.S. statements on cooperation and its practical measures.
During the interview, Lavrov said Russia is prepared to discuss all relevant issues within the framework of the Russia-U.S. bilateral working group on economic issues in a bid to better understand Washington’s notion of “mutual benefit.”
Moscow has also pushed back against recent U.S. claims that India has agreed to stop buying Russian oil, with Russia saying it sees no indication that New Delhi has changed its stance on purchasing Russian crude, reiterating the perceived importance of cooperation in the energy sector.
