I wouldn't even go into the history of the last days of the Soviet Union, the withdrawal from Europe, and what promises were given at that time, because those were oral promises, and our leaders of that time strongly believe that, like in ancient Russia, a word given is better than any treaty.

The quote “I wouldn't even go into the history of the last days of the Soviet Union, the withdrawal from Europe, and what promises were given at that time, because those were oral promises, and our leaders of that time strongly believe that, like in ancient Russia, a word given is better than any treaty.” comes from Sergei Lavrov, the longtime Russian Foreign Minister. In this statement, Lavrov reflects on the end of the Soviet Union and the negotiations that surrounded the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Eastern Europe. He emphasizes that the agreements made at the time were often not formal treaties but rather oral promises, which Soviet and later Russian leaders considered binding based on the cultural tradition that a “word given” carried deep weight.

The meaning of the quote lies in Lavrov’s critique of how those oral assurances were treated by the West in the post–Cold War era. He suggests that while Russian leaders trusted these informal commitments—such as promises allegedly made about NATO’s non-expansion—Western counterparts did not honor them with the same seriousness. By invoking the idea that, in ancient Russia, a promise was considered stronger than a written treaty, Lavrov frames Russia’s disappointment as not only political but also cultural, highlighting a perceived betrayal of trust.

The origin of this perspective comes from the turbulent period of the early 1990s, when the Soviet Union collapsed and Russia faced dramatic political and territorial changes. At that time, discussions with the United States and European leaders often revolved around the security architecture of post-Cold War Europe. Russian officials have long claimed that informal assurances were given that NATO would not expand eastward, though Western leaders have argued that no such legally binding agreements were made. Lavrov’s statement reflects Russia’s ongoing narrative that its trust was violated in this transitional moment of history.

Ultimately, Lavrov’s words serve both as a historical reminder and a political message. They suggest that Russia continues to see its post-Soviet relations with the West through the lens of promises broken and trust undermined. His reference to “a word given is better than any treaty” underscores the cultural and historical weight Russia places on verbal commitments, while also framing the West as having failed to uphold this standard. The quote reflects not just diplomatic memory but also the enduring tensions rooted in the legacy of the Soviet Union’s collapse.