Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed Ukraine was the first to strike Russia’s energy infrastructure, adding that the Kremlin decided to target Ukraine’s energy facilities only in response.
He also referenced an “energy truce” with Ukraine that he said Kyiv violated in 2025. He made the comments in an interview with Russian media, TASS reported.
“Russia’s patience is not limitless. It measured for a long time before cutting,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov argued that Moscow had shown “goodwill,” including the purported energy truce in 2025, which he said Ukraine broke.
He added that Russia has explained to the United States that the key issue for Moscow “is not about territory but about people.”
The foreign minister also said Moscow has a “clear conscience,” asserting it had recognized Ukraine as a neutral, non-nuclear country.
Lavrov repeated claims that the West sought to wage war against Russia using Ukrainians as proxies.
He called it “stupidity” to suggest Moscow would try to attack Europe.
Lavrov also accused Europe of seeking to derail US–Russia talks on Ukraine and said European officials’ public remarks do not differ from their confidential contacts.
In the early hours of February 3, Russian forces launched a mass strike on Ukraine using more than 60 missiles and hundreds of drones. Energy infrastructure was hit, leaving people without electricity and heat amid temperatures near minus 20 Celsius.
During a joint news conference with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia deliberately disregarded the conditions of the energy truce between the sides.
“Either Russia now thinks a week has fewer than seven days, or it is truly betting on war,” the president said.
In his evening address on February 3, Zelensky said he expects a US response to Russia’s violation of the energy truce. He noted it was the American side that proposed such understandings for the duration of talks and harsh weather conditions.
On January 29, US President Donald Trump said he personally asked Russian President Vladimir Putin not to attack Ukrainian cities for a week. Putin agreed, he said.
Zelensky later commented that there were no formal agreements between Russia and Ukraine to halt strikes on energy facilities, but said Kyiv was prepared to adhere to such understandings .
The New York Times reported the energy truce emerged after Kyiv over the weekend requested a pause during three-way talks in Abu Dhabi.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later said the truce would be in effect until February 1. That coincided with the end of a brief warm spell in Ukraine.
