- February 19, 2026
- 8:39 pm
- Middle East
On February 19, 2026, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave an interview to the Al Arabiya TV channel, timed to the centenary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia.
The formal occasion is the anniversary. The actual content is the Middle East, Israel, Iran, and Ukraine.
The statements were made on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine and amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
What Lavrov said about Israel and Hamas
Diaspora, language, and criticism of Israeli actions
Speaking about Israel, Lavrov emphasized the presence of a “huge Russian, Soviet diaspora” and the widespread use of the Russian language in the country.
This is a traditional diplomatic emphasis by Moscow on cultural and historical ties.
He recognized the Hamas attack on Israel as a terrorist act. However, he then moved on to criticize Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
According to him, in response to calls from the international community to comply with international humanitarian law and not to use force against civilians, “Israeli officials, IDF leaders openly stated that there are no civilians there.”
Lavrov added: “They say, everyone there is a terrorist, starting from the age of three.”
This wording sounded like an accusation against the Israeli leadership of excessive use of force.
Hamas as “part of political life”
The most discussed part of the interview concerned the status of Hamas.
Lavrov stated:
“By some signs, Hamas members are ready to seek compromises. Israel, as I understand it, believes that Hamas should not exist at all, neither as a military nor as a political structure. Hamas is like Hezbollah in Lebanon – it is in any case part of political life.”
This statement sounds like a factual recognition of Hamas’s political subjectivity – an organization that Israel, the US, and the European Union consider terrorist.
From the point of view of Israeli security policy, such a position by Moscow looks like an attempt to legitimize Hamas’s presence in the future political architecture of Gaza.
Iran, nuclear program, and accusations against Israel
“Sovereign right to enrich uranium”
In the interview, Lavrov stated that Iran has a “sovereign right” to enrich uranium.
He accused the US and Israel of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities that created the risk of a nuclear incident and undermined the authority of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Separately, he stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “actively insists on radical measures against Iran, undermining its legitimate rights.”
From the point of view of Israel’s official position, Iran is considered a strategic threat, and its nuclear program is seen as a potential threat to national security.
Thus, Lavrov’s statement fits into Moscow’s line of supporting Tehran and criticizing Israel’s containment strategy.
Ukraine and “Russia does not seek wars”
On the eve of the fourth anniversary
Turning to Ukraine, Lavrov called the “Kyiv regime” the main obstacle to conflict resolution.
He stated that Russia “does not seek and does not want wars.”
This wording was made a few days before the fourth anniversary of the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Lavrov also noted that one of the central themes of the Munich Security Conference was, in his words, “the need to finish off the declared enemy Russia.”
In the same interview, he called Finnish President Alexander Stubb “one of the main neo-Nazi leaders.”
Such rhetoric reflects the tough line of Russian diplomacy towards EU and NATO countries actively supporting Ukraine.
What these statements mean for Israel
Several aspects are important for Israel.
The first is Moscow’s position on Hamas. If Russia considers Hamas as “part of political life,” it strengthens the diplomatic line of those countries that allow the movement’s participation in future political processes in Gaza.
The second is support for Iran’s right to enrich uranium. In the context of ongoing regional threats, this position by Moscow directly affects Israel’s strategic interests.
The third is the rhetoric about the “Russian diaspora” in Israel. Such statements are traditionally used by Moscow as an element of soft power.
In this context, Nikk.Agency – Israel News | Nikk.Agency notes: Lavrov’s interview unites Israel, Iran, and Ukraine in one logic, offering a Russian version of regional balance.
Geopolitical contour
In recent years, Moscow has been strengthening ties with Tehran, including military-technical cooperation.
At the same time, Russia maintains diplomatic channels with Israel.
Lavrov’s interview demonstrates an attempt to hold both lines – while simultaneously publicly criticizing Israeli policy in Gaza and supporting Iran.
As for Ukraine, the formula “Russia does not seek wars” was voiced against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities and sanctions pressure.
From the point of view of the international audience, such rhetoric is aimed at forming an alternative interpretation of the conflict.
Conclusion
Sergey Lavrov’s interview with the Al Arabiya TV channel became a concentrate of Russia’s foreign policy position on three key areas:
Israel and Hamas.
Iran and the nuclear program.
Ukraine and the war.
The wording is tough. The assessments are unequivocal.
For Israel, this is a signal: Moscow continues to build a line in which Hamas is not removed from the political field, Iran retains “sovereign rights,” and responsibility for the war in Ukraine is placed on Kyiv and the West.
How this will affect regional dynamics will be shown in the coming months.
