Lavrov Vows 'Tough' Reply to 'Hostile' EU

Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, blamed the deterioration of the EU's relations with Russia on Kyiv's previous support in the Ukraine conflict.

"The European Union has lost Russia. But it is its own fault. It is the EU member countries and EU leaders who openly declare it is necessary to inflict, as they call it, a strategic defeat on Russia," Lavrov told the website Argumenty i Fakty in an interview on Tuesday.

He added that Russia will respond in a reciprocal and "tough manner if necessary" manner based on its national interests, describing the European Union's steps in providing Ukraine with arms and trainers as "hostile".

Meanwhile, Lavrov praised Russia's relationship with China, accusing the West of trying to drive a wedge between the two countries.

The senior Russian diplomat was referring specifically to the Western analysis of Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent trip to Moscow, which has been interpreted as a reflection of the two countries' unequal relationship.

Lavrov stressed that Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached a "strategic partnership" between their two countries during 10 hours of talks on the background of the visit nearly two weeks ago.

"Naturally, we have a sense of comradeship and readiness to stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of each other's fundamental interests," Lavrov noted.

Xi's visit to Moscow followed the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Putin. 

Analysts pointed out at the time that Putin was sticking to the visit to portray an unbroken reaction to the memo, while Xi was using Russia's delicate situation to secure cheaper energy supplies.