Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia is prepared to resume full Arctic Council operations if other members commit to working in good faith.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Russia is ready to resume full-fledged activities within the Arctic Council, provided all participants engage in good faith and respect the interests of every member. In an article published on the arctic.ru portal, Lavrov addressed the current state of the organization, which has faced significant operational challenges since 2022.

Current Status of the Arctic Council

Lavrov noted that the Arctic Council is currently in a state of crisis as it nears its 30th anniversary. He stated that the organization’s work has been effectively frozen since March 2022 due to actions taken by Western member states. As a result of this suspension, ministerial meetings and sessions of the Senior Arctic Officials have been halted. Current activities are largely limited to expert-level contacts and remote meetings of the Council's working bodies.

Alternative Strategies and Regional Interests

The Foreign Minister also addressed the possibility of NATO countries continuing to discuss Arctic issues without Russian participation. He described this approach as an attempt to discredit and marginalize the Council. Lavrov emphasized that if this scenario persists, Russia possesses the necessary territory, logistics, technology, and partnerships to independently implement its Arctic projects and plans.