On September 7, 2026, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated there will never be trust in the West again, citing repeated lies before and after February 2022. He spoke shortly after U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Vladimir Putin to discuss Ukraine peace paths.
Lavrov said past chances given to the West confirmed Russia's independent course, amid U.S. pushes for renewed talks. The remarks highlight Moscow's view that pre-2022 relations cannot return, reinforcing ties with other partners.