Foreign Minister Lavrov Attempts to Counter Zelensky’s Social Media Success with Press Conference
While competing with a beloved children’s character may seem out of place, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov seemed determined to do so, aiming to counter Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s highly effective social media presence—whose previous work included voicing Paddington Bear. To this end, Lavrov held a press conference, aiming to address Putin’s war in Ukraine and rebut allegations raised against Russia.
The interview arrangements, however, were anything but standard. The author recounts a WhatsApp call from a contact named Nikolay confirming a rare interview opportunity. Having sought a one-on-one since a previous sit-down in 2018, the journalist’s initial excitement faded when informed this would be a “group interview” with only two questions allowed.
