Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday praised Morocco’s “balanced position” on the war in Ukraine, saying Rabat recognizes that a lasting settlement requires addressing NATO’s long-standing security threats near Russia’s borders.
“In Rabat, as in most capitals of the Global South and the East, there is an understanding that a sustainable solution is impossible without tackling the root causes of the crisis, including NATO’s expansion and the use of Ukraine as a platform to threaten our country,” Lavrov said at a joint press conference with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Moscow.
Lavrov also accused Kyiv of “serious violations,” including legislative bans on the Russian language and religion, citing restrictions on the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The Russian diplomat said both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the “traditional, friendly and reliable” partnership between Moscow and Rabat, emphasizing cooperation in trade, investment and education. Around 4,250 Moroccan students currently study in Russia, according to Lavrov, who said Moscow intends to support growing academic exchanges.
Lavrov said the ministers also discussed regional and international issues, including developments in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel, as well as the ongoing U.N.-led process on the Moroccan Sahara.
He reiterated Russia’s support for resolving global and African conflicts “solely through political and diplomatic means,” based on the principles of the U.N. Charter.
On the Gaza conflict, Lavrov commended Morocco’s “important traditional role” in promoting peace efforts, highlighting the leadership of King Mohammed VI, who chairs the Al-Quds Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Lavrov welcomed what he described as “positive developments” on the ground, including the initial phase of a cease-fire and prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas brokered by the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.
He said Russia supports making the cease-fire in Gaza sustainable to ensure humanitarian access and reconstruction, stressing that efforts must align with U.N. resolutions establishing an independent Palestinian state living in peace alongside Israel.
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