Lavrov warns Ukraine over renouncing its roots

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has publicly criticized Ukraine, using it as an example of what happens to countries that renounce their historical and cultural roots. His comments, made in a public address, frame Ukraine's post-2014 trajectory as a negative case study in national identity. The statement is part of Russia's ongoing rhetorical campaign to justify its invasion and undermine Ukrainian sovereignty. Lavrov did not specify any new policy actions but reinforced Moscow's narrative that Ukraine is an artificial state.