Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, February 7, 2024
- Sergey Lavrov’s upcoming participation in the annual Middle East Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club
- Sergey Lavrov’s participation in the Government Hour at the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
- Foreign Ministry’s preparations for holding the Presidential election abroad
- Ukraine update
- The summoning of the Russian Ambassador to the French Foreign Ministry
- Moldova update
- US website YouTube bans accounts of regional media
- Decision by the Swedish authorities to close the investigation into the bombing of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines
- Increase in Norwegian-US military cooperation
- Death penalty in the United States and condemnation of capital punishment by the EU
- US Ambassador to Lithuania cautions against glorifying individuals responsible for the Holocaust
- Biosecurity cooperation with Tajikistan and the transfer of Russian mobile laboratories to Dushanbe
- 100th anniversary of the Soviet Union-UK diplomatic relations
- Grenada marks 50th anniversary of independence
- Lunar New Year celebrations
- 95th anniversary of the Vatican
- Celebration of Islamic Revolution Day in Iran
- Diplomatic Worker’s Day
- Reception marking Diplomatic Worker’s Day for the Moscow Diplomatic Club of the Council of Young Diplomats
- The 22nd Winter Diplomatic Games
- Possible restrictions on Russian diplomats
- Plans to relocate the Victory Memorial in Tajikistan
- Anti-Russia statements by certain Israeli politicians
- Energy security in Europe
- Ukraine's prospects for NATO membership
- Russia's relations with the Alliance of Sahel States
- The future of the Arctic Council
- Preserving the Russian history of Odessa
- Western media ethics
- Unique Chinese culture
- Acts of vandalism against Great Patriotic War monuments
- Investigation into terrorist attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines
- The prospects for political and diplomatic settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict
- The US’s involvement in destroying the Nord Stream pipelines
- The Israeli Ambassador to Russia summoned to the Foreign Ministry
- Russian-Georgian cooperation in combating terrorism
- Russian-Vietnamese ties
- Russia's response to further steps by the collective West
- The United States’ aggressive actions
- The United States’ destabilising role in the Middle East
- The prospects for an American pullout from the Middle East
- The impact of Iranian-US relations on the situation in the Gaza Strip
- Certain statements by Emmanuel Macron on nuclear security
- Certain statements by Nikol Pashinyan
- Armenia's aspirations to join the European Union
- Russian-Ecuadorian military technical cooperation
- The US’ extended continental shelf claims
- The possibility of revising Russia's nuclear doctrine
- The US’ violations of international law
- The rewriting of the history of the Great Patriotic War in the Baltic states
- Extension of the Ukrainian scenario to other countries
- Russian information and consulting centres
- Moscow International Open dance festival
- Lunar New Year 2024 greetings
- No reaction from the West to the Ukrainian missile strike on Lisichansk
On February 13, the 13th Middle East Conference, Time for Decisive Action: A Comprehensive Settlement for the Sake of Stability in the Region, will take place at the Valdai Discussion Club venue in Moscow.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to attend the event.
On February 14, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will speak and answer deputies’ questions at the Government Hour during a plenary meeting of the State Duma, devoted to topical aspects of Russia’s foreign policy.
The annual meetings of the Minister and parliamentarians help improve interaction between the executive and legislative branches in addressing challenges to bolster our country’s role and standing on the global stage, promoting partner relations with countries that are ready for constructive interaction with Russia, and ensuring favourable external conditions for the country’s social and economic development and protection of the rights and interests of compatriots living abroad.
Foreign Ministry’s preparations for holding the Presidential election abroad
As you know, the Foreign Ministry Collegium held a meeting on February 5, 2024, chaired by Sergey Lavrov. Chairperson of the Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova attended this meeting, which focused on preparing our foreign missions for holding the Presidential election. The corresponding press release is available on our website.
Since we received many questions on this topic, I would like to share more details with you. Ensuring security at the polling stations, with most of them located within the grounds of our foreign missions, will be one of our main priorities during the upcoming election.
Russian embassies and consulates have witnessed a stark deterioration in terms of their security lately, which raises the most serious concerns. This is largely attributable to efforts by unfriendly regimes. We keep witnessing demonstrations and other provocations, staged by those who side with the Kiev regime, close to our foreign missions, with the Western regimes contributing to these events or creating a conducive environment for holding them. The relations with local law enforcement agencies have become increasingly strained in several countries. I am referring primarily to the collective West, where countries, instead of fulfilling their international obligations to protect foreign missions, have opted to encourage aggressive activists operating on their payroll.
Obviously, there will be a much greater risk of provocations during the voting abroad to elect the President of Russia, but we will take this factor into account when planning our security arrangements to enable Russians to cast their ballots in all freedom. Our diplomats are doing everything they can towards this.
Unfortunately, some of our partners in Europe and America have yet to answer our requests to ensure security at the polling stations on election day. Let me remind you that this is their duty rather than a rhetorical request on our behalf. In fact, there are documents setting forth this obligation for countries hosting foreign missions such as the Vienna conventions on diplomatic and consular relations, as well as bilateral obligations, including those provided on a reciprocal basis. We will continue working hard to ensure that all Russian citizens abroad can enjoy their right to elect the head of state in freedom and security.
However, we have been facing other substantial obstacles as we prepare the upcoming election abroad. Let me remind you that the authorities in unfriendly countries forced us to close 26 Russian foreign missions lately, and many of our diplomats had to return home due to mass expulsions organised at the Anglo-Saxon’s bidding. We are facing these challenges in the Baltic states, the UK, Germany, Ireland, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Montenegro, the Czech Republic, Sweden and in several other countries.
Another thing to keep in mind is that democracy counts the free expression of will by citizens among its achievements, while the West is overtly doing everything it can to deny Russians the opportunity to exercise their legitimate voting rights, thereby infringing on their rights.
Obviously, compared to the previous election, we have limited resources and capabilities. I would like to note that this does not result from a natural disaster or the coronavirus pandemic, as was the case in 2020, when countries holding elections had to enact restrictions. They are creating these obstacles on purpose in order to deny Russians their right to vote in an election. We will do everything to enable our citizens abroad to vote in freedom and without any interference.
Journalists asked us to share some figures. Here they are. As of this moment, we have already created 269 polling stations and work continues to form their election commissions. We are taking care of all the preparations in due course by checking voting lists and forming diplomatic teams who will be travelling to certain countries to assist election commissions. At the same time, we are working on ensuring that all these people get visas, which has become a major factor in today’s world. Moving forward, we plan holding online conferences for election commission members with experts, members of the Central Election Commission, as well as the Foreign Ministry Election Commission.
We will keep you updated on the preparations for holding the Presidential election abroad. Follow our briefings, the Foreign Ministry website, as well as our official social media accounts.
Zelensky’s criminal regime continues to conduct inhuman terrorist attacks with the use of Western weapons.
It recently waged increasingly more barbaric attacks on Russian cities during weekends or holidays. The Banderites target exclusively civilian objects such as outdoor markets, stores, pharmacies and medical and social facilities with the obvious intention of striking a large group of people so as to injure as many of them as possible. The terrorists’ objective is to intimidate, create panic and make people think that there is no way out. It is the logic of terrorists. They not only want to claim many civilian lives but also to intimidate people. All of this we witnessed in Belgorod just before the New Year, December 30, 2023, and in Donetsk on Sunday, January 21, 2024.
On Saturday, February 3, 2024, the Ukrainian armed forces committed yet another heinous crime with horrible consequences by attacking civilian infrastructure in Lisichansk, Lugansk People’s Republic. They used a US-made HIMARS missile system to strike a two-storey building where the Adriatika bakery was located. The building collapsed as a result. According to the Emergencies Ministry of Russia, as of February 5, 2024, 28 civilians have been killed, including a pregnant woman with her child. Ten others were injured, with four of them remaining in a critical condition.
On February 4, 2024, the Ukrainian armed forces attacked the Donetsk People’s Republic 99 times, launching 334 munitions of various types. As a result, four people were injured and nine residential buildings and three civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged.
On the night of February 5, 2024, the Russian defence forces prevented a Ukrainian terrorist drone attack on the Bryansk Region. Seven drones were also downed in the Belgorod, Volgograd and Rostov regions.
All these crimes have been thwarted and their details have been registered for ongoing or subsequent careful examination by the Russian law enforcement authorities. Those involved in these crimes will be identified, as happens on a daily basis, and they will be called to account.
The Russian Federation courts use evidence collected by the Investigative Committee of Russia to pass verdicts on Ukrainian fighters found guilty of grave crimes against innocent civilians.
Ukrainian neo-Nazis Sergey Baranov and Viktor Yushko have been sentenced in absentia to 29 years in prison for crimes against civilians in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They have been placed on the wanted list.
Ukrainian soldier Sabir Romanovich, who killed a civilian in Mariupol in spring 2022, has been given a 26-year prison sentence.
Renat Aliev, a Banderite from the Nazi Azov battalion has been given a life sentence for the murder of civilians.
None of the Ukrainian criminals will escape punishment. They will be identified and punished with the full force of the law.
US Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland’s visit to Kiev on January 31, 2024, was particularly cynical in this context. She represents a collective vision of a “foreign dignitary.” Regrettably, her visits invariably bring nothing except political intrigue, death and conflict. I think that this is what we will see this time too. Victoria Nuland issued marching orders on mobilising more Ukrainians without American money. The Kiev regime no longer regards Ukrainian citizens as expendable material. They don’t see them as material at all. Seeing that they have no regard for lives and readily sacrificed the Ukrainians who were transported for a scheduled exchange, probably as the result of internal political intrigues or for other considerations, Washington has cynically and harshly ordered Zelensky to mobilise more Ukrainian citizens.
During a news conference in Kiev, Nuland declared that keeping up the flow of weapons to the front was of strategic importance to the United States and that the US-made GLSDB precision-guided bomb was “on its way to the front” and would be used there. I would like to draw your attention to her reasons. She did not speak about the strategic importance of these deliveries for the Ukrainian people or state. She clearly indicated that all this was strategically important to the United States. Actually, they have stopped keeping this secret. In light of the recent barbaric attacks on Russian cities, there is no doubt left that the Banderites are using such lethal weapons against peaceful civilians in Russia. We remember how cynically the current American politicians and members of the “inner state elite” said that the main objective for Ukraine and the Kiev regime was to “kill as many Russians as possible” and to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia, that “if that isn’t a good investment, they don’t know what is,” and that they were waiting for palpable results.
Nuland’s visit to Kiev has once again revealed the identity of Zelensky’s real master.
On February 1, 2024, the leaders of EU countries grudgingly agreed to allocate 50 billion euros to Ukraine in 2024-2027. But the devil is in the details, which those whom Zelensky is sending to the front do not or cannot understand. They must know that it won’t be a non-repayable tranche. The bulk of the funds, 33 billion euros, is a loan. Zelensky’s regime, which is marching Ukrainian citizens to the front, takes out loans which those who lose their fathers and homes will have to repay. The 33 billion euros are a cynical attempt to deliver a double blow to the country’s population, in addition to the loans and obligations which Ukraine assumed as a state. They were taken out on behalf of the people by members of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky and, before him, Petr Poroshenko. Those who came to power by means of anti-national coups orchestrated by the United States, Britain, France, Germany and “collective Brussels” are condemning the Ukrainian people to eternal slavery.
Most of these funds will be spent on weapons. Regrettably, there is no doubt that these weapons will be used by the Ukrainian military to attack residential districts and kill innocent civilians.
These actions of the West European political elites are immoral and only show that hostilities are much more important to them than the stability and prosperity of their own citizens. They calmly turned a blind eye to the massive protests staged by farmers, who have been pushed to the brink of bankruptcy, and refused to give them subsidies, in view of fact that it is of strategic importance to the United States to keep up a stable arms supply to Ukraine, as Nuland said. They will find the money for that. The EU will probably continue to approve funds for Kiev until the last tractor.
Considering the unprecedented corruption in Ukraine, it is highly likely that these funds too will be used for the personal needs of the powers that be, which have pushed the country into the debt pit. Many generations of survivors will have to repay the debts created by corrupt Kiev officials.
The Kiev regime’s unprecedented cruelty is coming out into the open. Even the Western media, both online resources and mainstream media outlets, have started publishing articles that are lifting the veil from the horrible information about the treatment of collaborators in Ukrainian prisons. The Guardian wrote on February 2, 2024, that Ukraine’s security service had opened more than 8,100 criminal proceedings related to collaboration, including women with small kids. That newspaper, which was never caught playing into any hands other than Western ones, writes about the maltreatment of such inmates, who are tortured to say what the torturers what to hear. Is this democracy? Is this the American image of a democratic state? It is not the first time that the Western media have published reports that reveal, even if partly, the real neo-Nazi nature of Zelensky’s gang.
We call on international human rights organisations and relevant international and intergovernmental agencies to at least read this, look at it and demand a reaction from the authorities in Ukraine, to demand a cessation of this brutal treatment of political prisoners and their immediate release, especially women and children.
Knowing this, we are no longer surprised when the Kiev regime and its Western sponsors are exploiting the “children’s issue” with blatant cynicism, in their own opportunistic interests. We have taken note of a declaration on the establishment of the so-called international coalition “for the return of Ukrainian children,” an initiative launched by Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly during her visit to Kiev on February 2.
It is of particular interest that the declaration contains references to the notorious Zelensky formula and the Copenhagen format. Let’s take a closer look. When their pseudo-peace initiatives failed to draw proper support or gain a fundamental framework, the Kiev authorities and the Western countries supporting them decided to incorporate children in their “formula” as well.
Their line of thinking is obvious. Support for minors is a call that’ll most likely leave no one indifferent. Anything that concerns children is unquestionable and clear to every nation and state. What they are doing is creating a new and even more striking and attractive wrapper for their provocations, a failure-proof way of pushing through the political views of the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine, which they are trying to foist on the international community for approval. This is the purpose of this fraudulent scheme. Anyone wishing to “promote the reunification of children with their families” (the phrase they used for their package deal), out of humanitarian considerations, should automatically support Zelensky’s formula.
The fraudulent schemes are uncountable. You are certainly well aware of ways financial institutions mislead their clients behind seemingly legitimate offers. Certain clauses in small print added at the end of the contract, or even in the numerous footnotes, embedded in legal language most people find hard to understand, may require the interested party to sign a contract to comply with an obligation they are not even aware of, barely understanding what it’s all about. There are phone scammers posing as law enforcement or bank employees. Humanity has invented numerous tools for deception, theft, and fraud. But in my humble opinion, this scheme – this global scheme the corrupt Kiev regime is using, aimed at deceiving as many states as possible and implicating them with collective responsibility – this scheme is worthy of Guinness Book of Records recognition.
The junta in Kiev has long devolved into thieves, racketeers and cheats. They do not really care about any children. If they cared about the children, they would not be killing them with Western weapons. They target social facilities where children are, and then call on the international community to take care of those children’s future. For eight long years, the Ukrainian armed forces have been exterminating their own citizens, including children, minors, infants, everyone. They were killing the residents of Donbass knowing full well that they were targeting children.
According to the Russian Investigative Committee, 155 children have been killed and 650 wounded in the Donbass republics since 2014. Wounded is too weak a term. Many have been crippled physically. And how many have suffered mentally? I would like to recommend the Canadian Foreign Minister, Madam Joly, visit the Alley of Angels – a children’s cemetery near Donetsk. This is the best evidence of the crimes committed by the Kiev regime, which now claims to be “concerned” about children. Or are they again only interested in children with the right ethnic background, the right blood group and speaking the right language group, according to the Kiev regime?
In 2023, Ukrainian artillery attacks killed 51 and wounded 155 children in the nearby Russian regions, including the DPR, the LPR, Crimea, as well as the Kherson, Zaporozhye, Bryansk, Kursk, and Tula regions. Theirs are not just little scratches or minor abrasions. Some are crippled. Their mothers have repeatedly damned those killers, both the Ukrainian Nazis and Western arms suppliers. Has the West created coalitions to help these children? Did anyone see what the West was offering them? Was anyone promising at least some help? Did they approve any declarations denouncing crimes committed by the Kiev regime? No. Neither Ottawa, nor Washington, London, Warsaw, Berlin, Paris or any other Western capital did anything of the kind. What is the OSCE up to, by the way? Is it showing any interest in Russian children or children from other ethnic groups?
All the vociferous defenders of children (I am referring to the “paper” proposed by Vladimir Zelensky) said not a single word about the minors Kiev was killing during these years. Not a single word, not a single time! Everyone visited Bucha, which the Kiev regime staged, following instructions from its Western mentors. Many visited it several times. I want to ask them: What did you visit? Streets? Houses? If the West insists that a tragedy took place there and a number of people were killed, did anyone visit a cemetery with the names of these people? There are neither graves, nor a list of the victims. However, they have a list of children killed in Donbass with its Alley of the Angels and other graves. But none of the Western “political tourists” visits them. Why? Because they are playing out a farce. The Kiev regime is exploiting the “kid theme” developed by NATO and acted on through the International Criminal Court. Declarations are issued and steps taken to impose this agenda on the international community as one of Zelensky’s political priorities.
In fact, however, the lives of children from Russian regions and lives of children as such, including those from Ukraine, are of no importance to them. At the same time, they accuse Russia of refusing to cooperate and provide information. But this is absurd! Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova is daily on air with facts and figures on Russia’s work in this area.
Russia is saving children without differentiating whether they are of Russian, Ukrainian, or any other ethnic descent. We rescue and treat children, help them and bring them back to their families, which has been done regularly for years.
Russia does not kidnap, deport, or forcibly displace children, contrary to what is alleged by the Western media citing Western politicians and representatives of political groups. Children are rescued and evacuated from areas of intense fighting. I am primarily referring to orphans and minors left without the care of their legal guardians. If relatives of these children turn up, Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova’s staff do whatever is needed and possible to expedite their reunification.
Our task is to ensure minors’ safety and create conditions for them to lead normal lives. We will continue to do this despite threats, blackmail, sanctions, and other impediments placed in our way by the Kiev regime and the West.
Let me remind you that all the goals which have been set and explained by the Russian leadership – to de-Nazify and demilitarise Ukraine and the Kiev regime, to remove threats coming from Ukraine, etc. – will be achieved, as President of Russia Vladimir Putin has repeatedly confirmed.
The summoning of the Russian Ambassador to the French Foreign Ministry
On February 5, Ambassador of Russia to France Alexey Meshkov was summoned to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our country was accused (that’s how they phrased it at the Quai d’Orsay) of the death of two and the injury of three French humanitarian workers (as they are referred to by officials in France) in Ukraine, along with the standard set of absurd accusations of “deliberate Russian propaganda” allegedly directed against the Fifth Republic.
We provided commentary on this matter on an earlier occasion. Ambassador Alexey Meshkov did not leave the Quai d’Orsay’s accusations unanswered. However, I would like to elaborate on this issue.
The fact is that the French authorities persistently refuse or simply cannot afford to honestly admit and let their citizens and allies know about the underlying causes of this and numerous other tragedies unfolding in Ukraine and the current global crisis in international relations.
In this regard, I’d be remiss not to revisit the origins of the Ukraine conflict which we do regularly. However, each time they try to distort the truth, we will say it again and return to the root causes that have led, among other things, to the death of French citizens thousands of kilometres from home. We will keep reminding everyone that Paris, along with its EU partners and NATO allies, supported the nationalist coup in Ukraine in 2014 and that a French representative signed the agreement between the Maidan leaders and President Yanukovich, knowing that they were part of a collective fraud committed against the Ukrainian people and the legitimate president of the country. We will keep reminding everyone how, during the years that followed, France played along with the criminal Kiev regime, turning a blind eye to its military crimes against its own people in Donbass. We will keep reminding everyone how cynically it went through the motions pretending to do actual work under the Minsk agreements, in fact using them as a front to get the Kiev regime prepared for a full-scale attack on eastern Ukraine. We will keep reminding everyone how zealously France engaged in the West’s hybrid war against our country and how it is now stoking the fire of the Ukraine conflict by flooding the Kiev regime with weapons, training Ukrainian military, and condoning the influx of mercenaries into the combat zone, even though official Paris denies the latter. Let’s look at the facts.
We remember that President of France Francois Hollande said after the European Council meeting in March 2014 that “Europe is determined to support the transitional process in Ukraine... and respect for minorities, including in Russian-speaking regions.” Now we know the true value of these words coming from the mouth of the French president. Subsequently, President Hollande and Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel openly admitted that they never actually sought a political or diplomatic settlement of the Ukraine crisis based on the Minsk agreements. Their only goal from the very beginning was to “buy time,” to let the Kiev regime get ready for a military solution and to “play in murky waters.”
France keeps ramping up its military aid to Kiev and expanding the range of supplied items from small arms to AMX-10RC tanks, to Caesar self-propelled howitzers, Mamba air defence systems, and long-range missiles. With the connivance of Paris (and occasionally direct approval from certain French authorities), both professional “soldiers of fortune” (many of whom are former French Foreign Legion members) and “naive idealists,” who fell for French propaganda and the mass-scale biased anti-Russia hysteria which has taken on outlandish proportions in the French media, have flocked to the combat zone. Interestingly, despite the official ban on mercenarism, law enforcement agencies in France remain unresponsive to ads about recruitment to the International Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine regularly posted by the Ukrainian embassy. If the French Foreign Ministry or the Élysée Palace were truly concerned about the fate of their citizens, they would probably have told the “Ukrainian diplomats” accredited in Paris to put an end to the activities that cause harm to French citizens. Just look at them trying to use the “right to self-defence” to exonerate Ukrainian terrorists’ shelling attacks against Belgorod and other Russian cities. We expressed solidarity with France and the French people when Paris or other French cities and communities came under terrorist attacks. We condemned them right away without using any flowery language. Look at them talking about the “right to self-defence” when civilians shopping in a bakery get killed. French authorities mourn the deaths of their citizens, but they are not concerned about the lethal weapons they send to Ukraine that are used for targeted killings of civilians and strikes against our civil infrastructure.
We have repeatedly pointed out to our French counterparts that their rhetoric and actions do nothing but exacerbate, protract and escalate the Ukraine conflict and, thus, jeopardise French lives, be they mercenaries or humanitarian workers.
Regarding the French nationals who died the other day, the information posted on French websites gives rise to doubt about the humanitarian nature of their mission in the first place. One of the men mentioned by those at the Quai d’Orsay previously served in the Foreign Legion and was involved in training Ukrainian soldiers. Is this a humanitarian mission? Is this charity? Local sources associate another individual with French foreign intelligence, specifically, the General Directorate for External Security.
What are the French authorities going to do about this? Will they claim they were “missionaries”? That they engaged in providing humanitarian aid? Be that as it may, we can only reiterate that the responsibility for their deaths lies with the current French government, which was involved either in intrigues surrounding Ukraine, the regime change in Ukraine, the unconstitutional coup in Ukraine, or in simply supplying weapons.
Regrettably, with a stubbornness worthy of a better cause, Paris continues to undermine Russo-French relations, demonstrating its incompetence in this situation (the French endlessly either come up with non-existent arguments, or refuse to remember their own involvement in the situation), and admitting its dependence on Big Brother overseas. Let me remind you that France was once considered the backbone of European security and was even described by both sides as a strategic partner.
Nevertheless, the centuries-old relations, which have stood the test of numerous trials, fill us with hope that what the current French regime is doing now will be described as a dark page in bilateral relations, which we will eventually turn. This aligns with the objective interests of our countries and peoples. All that is needed is for the French leadership to recognise the realities of a multipolar world and Russia’s legitimate interests, and to stop sponsoring the neo-Nazi regime and killing civilians. I’m confident that it will happen sooner or later.
The leadership of Moldova is basically mimicking the well-known policy of double standards practiced by their Western handlers.
On January 27, 2024, President Maia Sandu addressed a rally marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day and noted that the lessons of the past had not been learned in full, and that it was therefore necessary to make an effort to eradicate hatred and resolutely fight xenophobia, racism and other forms of discrimination.
All these beautiful words run counter to their practical actions. I will mention a few examples.
- In December 2023, Moldova declined to support a Russian-backed draft resolution of the UN General Assembly on combating the glorification of Nazism. What’s wrong with their memory? Have the leaders in Chisinau forgotten that they did not want to include these wonderful words about the lessons of the past in the UN General Assembly document?
- The country bows low before Romanian collaborators and builds monuments in their honour. For example, a street in Chisinau was named after Octavian Goga, the Prime Minister of Romania in 1937-1938, and a bust honouring him was unveiled as well. Goga gained notoriety for stripping Romanian Jews of their citizenship. What has been lost: historical memory, logic or conscience? How can one explain the fact that the same people noting the need to remember the lessons of the past are unveiling monuments to bygone individuals who wanted to deprive the world of its future?
- The republic is introducing harsher discrimination against certain languages. On October 29, 2023, a candidate for the post of Chisinau Mayor from the Moldovan Communist Party, Diana Karaman, was prevented from taking part in televised debates because she spoke Russian. The crackdown on Russian-language media outlets continues. Certainly, we react to all this, and we do not overlook these developments.
Here is one more example of double standards: Moldova is actively introducing neo-Liberal values, including the imposition of the LGBT agenda. This is presented as part of the Moldavian nation’s “European choice.” According to the latest opinion polls, 85 percent of the country’s residents oppose the legalisation of same-sex marriages and advocate traditional moral-ethical priorities. Maybe the authorities will take this opinion into account if they respect the position of the Moldovan people?
Almost every week, we are talking about people’s negative attitude towards official attempts to launch anti-Russia hysteria and to sever ties with Russia. On February 2, 2024, Chisinau supported the European Council’s decision to impose sanctions on ALROSA, Russia’s largest diamond mining company. Indicatively, this latest unfriendly move became the subject of ironic, derisive and mocking remarks.
The people of Moldova do not believe in the non-existent “Russian threat.” They realise that they are watching a tragic farce, a “tragicomedy.” They know that Russia’s Moldovan policy hinges on a striving for equitable and mutually beneficial cooperation.
We urge Chisinau to heed the opinion of their people, the people of Moldova. I hope that the very concept of a Moldavian nation will remain, that it will not be changed or modified like the Moldovan language, and that the people of Moldova will not be renamed a Romanian nation.
US website YouTube bans accounts of regional media
The American video hosting platform YouTube has launched a fresh wave of account bans targeting Russian media. This time regional Russian news channels have been targeted for censorship. Without any prior notice, access to dozens of regional branches of VGTRK was unilaterally terminated. In particular, we know about the blocked online pages of television channels in Tyumen, Bryansk, Belgorod, Rostov, the Republic of Sakha, Chita, Murmansk, Pskov, Tomsk, Vologda, Perm, St Petersburg, Saratov, Mari El, Adygea, and Karelia.
What is this? It is the ruthless weeding out of any seedlings of dissent in the media space. Arbitrary actions and political censorship have become a daily routine of American digital platforms and video hosting sites. At the same time, they allow and even encourage illegal content that promotes discord and hatred, as well as fake news, openly extremist and even terrorist content. Given that the main audience of the blocked channels are Russian citizens, residents of the targeted regions of Russia, this measure should be categorically viewed as a blatant act of interference in the domestic affairs of the Russian state, attempting to manipulate the mechanisms of informing the population and shaping public opinion.
It is very clear to us that official Washington is behind this and other acts of repression conducted by the allegedly independent American company. It is also obvious that these measures aimed at blocking the sources of unfavourable information are related to the upcoming presidential election in Russia and are largely a reaction to the growing public demand for unbiased information in the United States.
Such aggression towards the media yet again reveals the true attitude of the collective West to pluralism of opinion, freedom to access information and freedom of speech. American media strategists should be aware that resorting to such methods of moderating content and such primitive forms of political censorship will yield no positive results. It is nothing but a manifestation of the impotent rage of Washington and its obedient media giants. Ultimately, such actions will drive the formation of a national digital ecosystem that is entirely independent from the whims of the Western stakeholders, resilient to external hostile influence, and undoubtedly necessary, in my view.
I encourage everyone again to register on RuTube, share your content, materials, and make your own engaging, valuable, and necessary contribution. Rest assured, this will guarantee the information security and information sovereignty we have dreamt about for so long and now are implementing in practice.
Today, February 7, 2024, the mockery we call “
On a separate note, the prosecutor said that during the investigation the Swedes had “in-depth cooperation” with several countries, primarily Denmark and Germany (which sounds more like a fairy tale, leaving the impression that we are dealing with a psychiatrist describing his deranged patient), while Russia did not receive any information about the Swedish investigation in the process.
This means that they start by positing that
Let me remind you that the Swedish authorities did not show any restraint when they started meddling in the Novichok story by involving its laboratory in
We see this from the fact that
But this series is not over yet. There are also
Increase in Norwegian-US military cooperation
The updated document envisages a significant increase in the number of military facilities in
This agreement, as well as the agreement of 2021, contradicts the policy the Norwegian government proclaimed in the note to the Soviet Union dated February 1, 1949 and repeatedly reaffirmed – of not providing bases on Norwegian territory to foreign armed forces in peacetime – and consolidates the permanent US military presence in Norway.
The document continues
The Norwegian authorities’ continued militaristic actions risk further escalating tensions in the European Arctic. Moreover, they are harmful to the security of
The
Death penalty in the United States and condemnation of capital punishment by the EU
We often hear about our country’s penitentiary system or prisons around the world failing to respect human rights. Every year, there is a flood of reports, opinions, and analytical papers. The West seems to attach special importance to these matters, followed by international organisations and political researchers.
The United States remains the only Western state pretending to be part of the developed world while keeping the death penalty as a form of capital punishment in its laws.
According to Deathpenaltyinfo.org, a US portal, there were 24 executions in 2023, while the number of executed death sentences peaked at 98 in 1999. Overall, the United States has performed over 1,500 executions since reinstating the capital punishment in 1976, most of them by lethal injection. Today, 2,333 people are on death row, with California topping the list at 665. The death penalty is legal in almost three dozen states, as well as on the federal level. The international community has repeatedly condemned the United States for using the death penalty to punish criminals. Even human rights organisations operating under Washington’s umbrella have questioned the use of the capital punishment and barbaric methods for performing it by a country casting itself as a model democracy.
Everyone knows how the American justice system has used the electric chair and lethal injections, often, resulting in prolonged suffering for the condemned. There have been cases when an execution did not result in the person’s death but instead left them crippled, requiring the sentence to be postponed and carried out again, sometimes many years later. What they call the experimental use of pure nitrogen has now joined this list, with Kenneth Smith becoming the first convict to be executed using this method on January 25, 2024. He received a death sentence back in the 20th century. Can you imagine how much time has passed? And this execution did not succeed the first time they tried, already in the 21st century. However, this time it did happen, at the nano-level and by relying on new technology.
What happened to this US citizen enabled human rights activists to describe how pure nitrogen functions during an execution. I will not repeat everything they said, since you can find this information on your own.
The United States has a long track record when it comes to extra-judicial killings. In fact, the last lynching was reported there in 1981, while it was a regular occurrence from the late 18th century and until the 1930s. Perpetrators had to qualms posing next to the corpses of their victims after hanging them or burning them alive. In many cases, their guilt was not proven. Moreover, it was not uncommon for these horrifying images to appear on postcards.
Many would say: Wait a minute, we left all these practices behind in the first three decades of the 20th century and today everything is different. Not so. This bone-chilling tradition has resurfaced in the 21st century. Do you remember the photos of American servicemen executing prisoners in Abu Ghraib? They shocked the entire world. There is even more to this, since nobody knows whether their victims, those who were tortured, hanged upside down and suffered even uglier treatment and humiliation, had committed any crimes. Could it be that they were not criminals to begin with? We have yet to receive an answer to this question. The US Department of State regularly highlights deficiencies in the operation of penitentiary systems in other countries while doing everything to sweep under the carpet the horrible inhuman practices in American prisons, many of which are privately owned and are not controlled by the state. In fact, there is no oversight whatsoever.
We have repeatedly stated at all the key international platforms that these methods for carrying out sentences run counter to the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the relevant obligations within the OSCE.
As for the latest statement by the European External Action Service, it offered a timid criticism of the United States. Here is what I wanted to say in this regard. The EU, a strong proponent of abolishing the death sentence around the world, has condemned the execution in the US and went as far as describe it as a “particularly cruel and unusual punishment.” However, if the United States had used the conventional method of the electric chair, this would have been just fine with the European Union. But this time an unusual method was used, which did not work out all that well. The condemned man suffered more than once as they failed to kill him during the first attempt. However, we can see that whenever Brussels condemns yet another execution in the United States, it always does it mildly by carefully choosing its words and avoiding any harsh rhetoric. Why? It is nothing but hypocrisy. This is what they believe.
US Ambassador to Lithuania cautions against glorifying individuals responsible for the Holocaust
The recently appointed US Ambassador to Lithuania, Kara McDonald, cautioned that Lithuania should remove monuments honouring the Holocaust perpetrators from public spaces, even if they later opposed the Soviet regime. What was the situation like before her call? Let me tell you.
Before Kara McDonald spoke out, monuments were erected in the Baltic states commemorating Nazi collaborators. Not only did the authorities turn a blind eye to those individuals’ criminal past, but those countries were actually encouraged to erect monuments to such individuals precisely based solely on their hatred towards our country, erasing the details of their criminal past. That is, those monuments were put in place solely on the basis of their hatred for our country.
The statement came as a surprise, given how sincerely she warned that the United States deemed it unacceptable to erect monuments in the Baltics to individuals who tarnished their reputations with the blood of innocent victims during World War II.
I would like to clarify: was this US Ambassador Kara McDonald’s personal civic heroism, or can we expect similar statements by the US ambassadors in Latvia, Estonia or Ukraine, where the glorification of Nazi collaborators has also been elevated to the level of state policy?
It is important that, while condemning the individuals whom American ambassadors refer to as the Holocaust perpetrators, and whom we describe as criminals guilty of the crimes committed during the Great Patriotic War and World War II, the authorities in the US should not forget to call for the demolition of monuments to Hitler's accomplices erected in the United States. There are many such monuments. Will the US authorities take any action in the near future regarding, for example, the monument to the leader of Lithuanian collaborators Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagas, unveiled on May 4, 2019, in Lemont, Illinois? That caused a public outcry. Along with the Russian Embassy in the United States and official agencies representing our country protesting against it, local public organisations such as the Simon Wiesenthal Centre (a Jewish human rights organisation) and the World Jewish Congress also strongly spoke out against it and drew attention to the case. Unfortunately, the Israeli Embassy in the US remained silent. Today, the Israeli Embassy will probably be allowed to support such protests invoking the statements by the American ambassador to Lithuania.
I actually have a verbatim quote from Ms McDonald: “We strongly advocate that the glorification of persons who are known and documented to have participated in the Holocaust should not be allowed. Such actions can be described as part of anti-Semitism.” So does this mean that the Americans approve of atrocities against other nationalities who were victims of the Holocaust and in a broader context, of World War II?
In the near future, we will send materials on the extermination of the peoples of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany to the American embassy in Vilnius as our token of support for the ambassador’s courageous decision to study the history of World War II.
I hope that the US ambassador will not be too shocked at the revelation that our countries were allies in the fight against Nazism, and that the Lithuanian authorities have been consistently destroying monuments honouring the Red Army soldiers, at that time an allied force to the United States that stopped the Holocaust.
We will do so without fail and will keep you informed.
Biosecurity cooperation with Tajikistan and the transfer of Russian mobile laboratories to Dushanbe
The leadership of the Republic of Tajikistan considers the Russian Federation a top priority partner in ensuring biological security. The two countries’ ministries of foreign affairs, healthcare and agriculture collaborate to address topical issues in this area. Specialised Russian agencies also work together with the Agency for Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear Safety and Security under Tajikistan’s Academy of Sciences.
On January 25, 2024, senior officials from the Russian diplomatic mission in Tajikistan, as well as representatives from Russia’s Anti-Plague Research Institute Microbe, took part in an official ceremony to transfer two up-to-date Russian mobile laboratories from the Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor) to the Republican Centre for the Treatment of Quarantine Diseases. The centre is affiliated with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Tajikistan. Attendees from Tajikistan included the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection, the Chief State Sanitary Physician and representatives from other ministries.
Representatives of Tajikistan expressed gratitude for Russian’s long-standing assistance. It was noted that the transferred Russian equipment, mounted on a Sadko Next chassis, includes all essential laboratory tools and equipment that meet the required medical criteria. The laboratories enable field research in accordance with high safety standards and facilitate more effective joint efforts to monitor dangerous infectious diseases in the country. This transfer of equipment is part of long-term efforts to assist Tajikistan in dealing with infectious diseases and strengthening the country’s healthcare sector.
The event has generated significant public interest, reaffirming our country's role as a key partner of Tajikistan in the field of sanitary epidemiology, consistently prepared to offer assistance to its ally on various health protection matters. It marks another significant milestone in Russian-Tajik cooperation.
100th anniversary of the Soviet Union-UK diplomatic relations
In February 2024, we will mark 100 years since the official establishment of diplomatic relations between Soviet Russia and Great Britain. Ties between our countries have a long history. They date back to the rule of Ivan the Terrible and Queen Elizabeth I, whose correspondence we can enjoy today.
Following a pause after the 1917 October revolution, the government of Ramsay MacDonald (Labour Party leader), who assumed office in January 1924, restored relations with Russia.
Since then, relations between Moscow and London have experienced various trials and tribulations, as well as periods of ups and downs. Our countries have been military allies and efficient trade partners, but there have also been periods of mutual mistrust and aggravations of interstate disputes. Today, Britain is involved in a hybrid war against Russia, although the awareness of responsibility for the world kept the Russian and British nations together during the Second World War.
Russia remembers and values the heroism of the members of the Arctic convoys, the selflessness of the British people who provided substantial humanitarian and moral support to our country, which in return liberated Europe, including Britain, from Nazism and saved the world.
Today, Britain is one of the leaders of the collective West’s hybrid aggression against Russia. Britain’s updated Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy describes Russia as “the most acute threat to the UK’s security,” although the reverse would be more accurate. Russia is not threatening Britain and is not supplying weapons that kill British nationals. It is Britain that sends weapons to the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine, which is using them to kill the citizens of Russia, Ukraine and also Britain and other countries.
Some forces in Britain, determined to achieve their ambitions at all costs, are unable to accept the imperative of the fundamental reshaping of the world on the principles of multipolarity and equal and indivisible security. I am referring to the government in London, which is ready to mindlessly undermine the foundations of responsible interaction that took decades to establish in the interests of our nations. The opinions of the British people are disregarded. The British are falling victim to London’s propaganda they are being fed through British tabloids. We believe that the British people can help their elites – and we are sure that this day will come – to pull out of this anti-Russia dive. The principles on which our country is ready to develop relations are well-known to everyone.
Grenada marks 50th anniversary of independence
On February 7, Grenada marks its national holiday, Independence Day. On this day in 1974, Grenada broke free from the protectorate of the United Kingdom and gained national sovereignty. Over the past fifty years, the nation has traversed a challenging and transformative path, overcoming hardships with great success. Despite the dramatic events that punctuate the history of this Caribbean state, including the US intervention in October 1983, Grenada has managed to maintain its unique identity and integrity while opening itself to the world and becoming part of the global community.
Grenada is taking an active part in the work of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and other regional associations, making a substantial contribution to the development and prosperity of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Our bilateral relations are friendly and based on the principles of mutual respect, trust, and consideration for each other’s interests. We value Grenada’s measured approaches to many crucial issues in the contemporary world, and are committed to further developing bilateral cooperation in various areas, including politics, trade, the economy, culture, humanitarian sphere and tourism.
As we approach this important anniversary, we extend our wishes for peace, wellbeing and prosperity to our Grenadian friends.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of Russian-Chinese diplomatic relations. In accordance with the directive of President of Russia Vladimir Putin, the years 2024 and 2025 have been proclaimed the cross years of Russian and Chinese cultures.
Our countries are close neighbours that share centuries-long traditions of friendship and trust. We greatly value the Russian-Chinese comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction, which have reached an unprecedented level on the brink of the new era. They serve as an example of efficiency, responsibility, and forward-looking mindset.
On February 9-18, Moscow will hold a large-scale celebration of the Lunar New Year for the first time. It is expected to become a historic event in the relations of our two countries and will mark the anniversary of our diplomatic relations.
On February 9, a substantial programme of cultural exchanges and significant events will commence, extending over the next two years. The centre of Moscow will be decorated in the traditional Chinese style, featuring coloured arches and lanterns symbolising wellbeing and success in China. Scrolls with New Year’s wishes by guests from China, Moscow residents and tourists will appear on festival venues in Kamergersky Pereulok, Tverskaya Square, Tverskoi Boulevard, and Novy Arbat Street.
Over the past years, the Moscow Zoo has become one of the most striking examples of Russian-Chinese friendship when it accepted pandas from China, which have recently had cubs. The zoo offers an educational programme devoted to Chinese wildlife, as well as themed workshops.
From February 9 to 11, visitors can enjoy free entry to the zoo if they dress up in a panda costume. Additionally, women named Yekaterina can get the same opportunity and celebrate the first Lunar New Year of the baby panda with the same name.
A series of free workshops, theatrical performances featuring dragons and Chinese drums will be held at VDNKh.
I want to note that the schedule of events to celebrate the Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year, or traditional New Year (it has many names) is organised by the Moscow Government with support of the Chinese Embassy in Russia and with the information support of the Foreign Ministry.
The official launch of the Chinese New Year Festival in Moscow will take place on February 9 in Kamergersky Pereulok. The ceremony will be attended by China’s Ambassador to Russia and representatives from the Foreign Ministry, Culture Ministry, and the Moscow Mayor’s office. I believe it will be a colourful, interesting and educational event.
The Moscow Mayor’s office extends an invitation to everyone, and we would like to use this opportunity to suggest that both Moscow residents and tourists from the Russian regions and abroad come and enjoy the festival.
95th anniversary of the Vatican
On February 11, the state of Vatican will celebrate its 95th anniversary. Established in accordance with the Lateran Accords, this city-state has unique cultural and historical heritage and enjoys indisputable authority of over 1 billion Catholics. Throughout these years, the Holy See has established diplomatic relations with 184 states. It has substantially enhanced its influence on global processes and become a prominent participant in international relations.
The history of Russia’s relationship with the Holy See dates back centuries. Today, Russia and the Vatican continue developing their interstate relations in a constructive spirit. They are guided by the principles of mutual respect, common commitment to traditional values, preservation of cultural and civilisation identity and openness to dialogue on the problems of the modern world. Russia and the Vatican have extensive experience of bilateral cooperation in science, culture, education and healthcare.
We share the Vatican’s pursuit of political and diplomatic solutions to global conflicts. We appreciate the Vatican’s peacekeeping efforts in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. We are pleased with the results of our cooperation on various humanitarian aspects of the conflict in Ukraine, particularly the reunification of children evacuated from the zone of the special military operation with their relatives and legal representatives.
We are open to further developing dialogue with the Vatican, based on shared approaches to pressing international issues and a striving for a fairer world order.
Celebration of Islamic Revolution Day in Iran
On February 11, the Islamic Republic of Iran celebrates an important public holiday – the Islamic Revolution Day (1979). This year Iran will celebrate its 45th anniversary. We extend our sincere congratulations to our friends on this occasion.
Russia and Iran are developing intensive contacts in the spirit of neighbourliness, mutual respect and equality at different levels, primarily, the highest level. Following the guidance of their leaders, Russia and Iran are building a strategic partnership.
Moscow and Tehran closely coordinate their approaches at regional and international platforms. We welcome Iran’s full accession to the SCO and BRICS. We are pooling efforts to create a new fairer world order.
We are broadening our cooperation in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). On December 25, 2023, the EAEU and Iran signed a free trade agreement. We are implementing large joint infrastructure projects and will continue our vigorous cooperation.
On February 10, we celebrate out professional holiday – Diplomatic Worker’s Day, which was established by presidential executive order on October 31, 2002. The choice of this date is explained by the earliest mention of the Ambassadorial Prikaz (February 10, 1549.)
According to the established tradition, a number of festive events will take place on that day. These include a meeting chaired by the Foreign Minister, the laying of wreaths at memorial plaques with the names of diplomats who perished while performing their service duties or during the Great Patriotic War, and at the monument to Yevgeny Primakov across from the Ministry’s building on Smolenskaya Square.
On that day, the Foreign Ministry will open historical and documentary exhibitions. One of the central expositions is devoted to the centenary of the wave of recognition of the USSR by many foreign states in 1924-1925. At that time, the USSR broke its foreign policy isolation and was recognised as an equal and inalienable participant in international relations. The exposition displays unique archive materials that reveal the meticulous work of the USSR People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs in normalising diplomatic relations with a number of European and Latin American countries.
The Ministry is also planning to hold an exhibition titled Foreign Ministers of the Empire at the Service of the Fatherland devoted to the heads of the Russian foreign service in 1828-1917. The exhibition was prepared by the Historical and Diplomatic Centre at St Petersburg State University and the Russian National Library with the assistance of the Foreign Ministry Representative Office in St Petersburg.
The Foreign Ministry is also planning to issue a new series of stamps on Russian embassies and consular offices.
As tradition dictates, on the Diplomatic Worker’s Day digital resources of the Foreign Ministry and Russian offices abroad will feature materials on the history of the domestic diplomatic service. During the #InMemoryOfDiplomats event, we pay tribute to our deceased colleagues, cherish their memory and recall the glorious pages of our diplomatic history and its outstanding figures.
On the occasion of the Diplomatic Worker’s Day, the Foreign Ministry and its missions abroad regularly feature, on their digital resources, publications on the history of the Russian diplomatic service, as well as interviews and comments from the Ministry’s top officials, ambassadors, permanent representatives and consuls general.
A series of public patriotic events are also timed to the Diplomatic Worker’s Day. Their goal is to support Russian military personnel taking part in the special military operation and fulfilling assignments in the Syrian Arab Republic.
Many diplomatic service employees celebrate their professional holiday in their posts abroad, far away from home. They are indeed on the frontline of their professional activities.
Events devoted to Diplomatic Worker’s Day are scheduled in all Russian missions abroad.
We will certainly keep you informed about them.
On February 7, at 6 pm, the Cultural Centre of the Foreign Ministry’s Main Administration for Service to the Diplomatic Corps will host a reception to mark Diplomatic Worker’s Day for the Moscow Diplomatic Club of the Council of Young Diplomats.
The event’s programme will feature speeches by senior officials from the Foreign Ministry and the UN Information Centre in Moscow, the chairperson of the Council of Young Diplomats, and the head of the headquarters of the Rostov-on-Don regional patriotic public movement Roads of Glory–Our History.
The guests will also have the opportunity to learn about the history of the World Festival of Youth and Students, watch a presentation of the Diplomacy in the Name of Peace international project and the Contemporary’s View exhibition by the Baranov Gallery. Additionally, there will be a concert featuring the Central Border Guards Ensemble of the Russian Federal Security Service and singer Olga Rybnikova.
The 22nd Winter Diplomatic Games
On February 10, Diplomatic Worker’s Day, the Moscow Country Club, a subsidiary of the Foreign Ministry’s Main Administration for Service to the Diplomatic Corps, will host the 22nd Winter Diplomatic Games.
Teams from various foreign diplomatic missions will compete in sports such as cross-country ski races, table tennis, Russian billiards and mini-football. The jury will include legendary Russian athletes and professional referees.
In addition to the sporting events, there will be a special programme leading up to the World Festival of Youth and Students and the Games of the Future 2024, a large-scale sports event that combines sport, science and technology.
On that day, the Moscow Country Club will provide outdoor sports facilities for winter fun, games and attractions for the entire family. Members of the federal project Gastronomic Map of Russia have also prepared a themed programme, with young cooks from all over Russia contributing their dishes.
We invite media representatives to take part in covering this event. Detailed information is available on the website of the Foreign Ministry’s Main Administration for Service to the Diplomatic Corps.
Question: The EU is debating restrictions on Russian diplomats’ travel within the Schengen zone. How does this fit in with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations? How will Russia retaliate, if this decision is adopted?
Maria Zakharova: It’s another one of their tricks. The EU had these plans before. Last year, for example, the Czech Republic’s representatives belaboured these plans as they worked to put together the 12th package of sanctions. But evidently, to their great regret, they failed to play a dirty trick on Russia that time. Possibly, they didn’t know how to implement it in practice. Let me remind you that formally, there are no borders within the Schengen zone. There are no restrictions on crossing the border on foot or by car, etc.
Currently, we see the anti-Russian forces in the EU urgently looking for reasons and justifications for yet another package of sanctions ahead of the upcoming anniversary of the special military operation. All of this confirms that the “European project” is in decline. Let me remind you that it was conceived as an economic foundation for Europe’s development as a zone of peace and stability. In fact, however, it has become a tool for implementing Josep Borrel’s racist philosophy about the “blooming garden” and the “jungle.” We see their obsessive desire, bordering on a phobia, to fence themselves off from the outside world and build a barbed-wire barrier against certain countries (Russia, China, and others) as well as migrants. We also note their attempts to restrict the freedom of movement in the territory of EU member states. All of this will further diminish the already low level of trust in the EU among countries and peoples who make up the Global Majority.
We will certainly monitor what their efforts will come to this time. I think the EU is already aware that any restrictions it imposes will be met with a retaliation. This will happen immediately, as it has on each previous occasion.
Question: What is your comment on media reports that Dushanbe is planning to relocate the Victory Monument from the square of the same name to a specially created park?
Maria Zakharova: For us, this was not a piece of news reported by the media. The Tajik side conveyed this information in line with the logic of our trust-based, constructive and effective relations.
Tajikistan consistently shows a caring attitude towards the feat of valour committed by our nations during the Great Patriotic War and cherishes the sacred memory of that period in our shared history. President Emomali Rahmon regularly takes part as a guest of honour in Victory Day celebrations on May 9, including the Victory Parade on Red Square.
As for relocating the Victory Monument (an obelisk with bas-reliefs and a IS-2 tank) from the square of the same name to Dushanbe’s Victory Park, this is part of the comprehensive plans to develop the city centre. They shared the graphic design with Russia long before this information was made public. Meetings were held to discuss the new location for the monument. We think that both the design and the location are worthy of the high status of this memorial complex.
In cooperation with their Russian colleagues, the Tajik side is planning to hold the inauguration ceremony for the monument at its new site on Victory Day-2024.
We deeply appreciate our Tajik friends’ commitment to preserving the memorial heritage that reminds everyone of our ancestors’ decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazism. We believe that these matters should be addressed based on both mutual respect towards each other and profound respect towards the memory of our ancestors, as well as history as a whole.
Question: What would your comment be on the anti-Russia statements by former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel Yair Lapid who said, in an interview with a Russian-language media outlet, that it will be long before Israel can forgive Russia and its leaders for supporting Hamas? He called for re-assessing Israel’s position towards our country.
Maria Zakharova: I have several questions. How long will it take before Yair Lapid and everyone making similar statements forgives its American allies for supporting Hamas? As a follow-up question, I would like to ask whether they refuse to forgive us for our efforts to free hostages who found themselves in a tragic, terrifying and horrible situation in October 2023?
In fact, there are many questions here, but the main one is what purpose statements such as the one made by Yair Lapid serve? These are not isolated statements targeting Russia and bordering on Russophobia but a rhetoric we hear on a regular basis. Could it be that this person and those who identify with this position ignore what binds our two nations together? Could it be that they ignore the interpenetrating nature of our two cultures? How can they ignore what our people have achieved in years past in terms of promoting, enriching and expanding our cooperation and contacts in various areas, including economics, finance, business undertakings, education, as well as security and preserving – to a certain point, should I say – the terrible historical memory of World War II. Why are they making these statements? Who stands to benefit from them? Only those who want to pitch our two countries against one another, make life harder for our people, break the hearts of mixed families in which parents, grandparents and grandchildren may not have the same passports.
Those intent on literally cancelling and erasing our shared memory and our common historical past with all the achievements and challenges we had to overcome together are the ones who benefit from these statements.
This is not our mission. Quite the contrary. I am talking about diplomats and those representing government agencies and the civil society. Our country is a democracy. We have our own opposition too. There are all kinds of political parties and civil society movements who have their own views regarding international relations, domestic and foreign policy. They may diverge in their assessments of various historical facts and events, while remaining united when it comes to fundamental existential matters.
We attach fundamental importance to our relations with the State of Israel and coexisting in friendship, peace and mutual respect with the people of Israel. Why would certain figures representing the State of Israel hurt our two nations by hiding behind dubious political mandates? They must answer this question considering the fury of their public rhetoric and their behind-the-scenes manipulations.
It could be that this is simply the way the United States affects the political elite and some of its representatives in Israel. If so, I suggest that we look for countries where the United States helped those following this rhetoric and adopting this mindset while contradicting their own national interests achieve anything positive. The people of Russia, just as the people of Israel, strongly believe that relations with Russia serve Israel’s national interests.
Question: Joe Biden said that the United States will suspend approving new LNG export contracts due to climate change issues. What does Moscow think about the impact of this measure by Washington on Europe’s energy security?
Maria Zakharova: It is one of the most instructive stories in recent years. I believe it should get a whole chapter of its own in textbooks on international relations, energy security, politics and diplomacy, foreign and domestic policies.
Firstly, this is as a lesson to everybody who listens to the United States contrary to their own national interests. Secondly, it is US allies, who succumbed to persuasion to give up even more of their sovereignty in favour of the United States, who should be evaluating Washington’s decision. It is they who abruptly broke off economic, trade and energy relations with Russia, hoping that their energy security will remain guaranteed in the long term and that it would be ensured by “Uncles Sam.”
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that, by forcing Western Europeans to abandon Russian energy sources (by the way, many abandoned them but not all) and forcing them into long-term deals with US producers, Washington has failed to guarantee uninterrupted natural gas supply. This is not just an unsubstantiated claim or a figure of speech. This conclusion comes not only from the fact you mentioned about suspending consideration of new requests for LNG exports from the United States, but also from the fact that several European companies have filed undersupply lawsuits against US LNG exporters for breach of contract. Unfortunately, this matter has been underreported. The media should pay more attention to it. The United States is essentially discrediting itself as a reliable supplier of the energy resources that Europe needs so much.
As a reliable participant of global energy markets, Russia has always, and I want to stress it, always ensured uninterrupted supplies of natural gas to the European continent. They have not stopped once since the 1970s, regardless of the political situation or border changes (which happened quite a few times in the 1990s). Now Europe is reaping the fruits of its choice (I don’t know whether this choice was conscious or somebody made it unconsciously) in favour of shutting down Russian energy imports.
We hope that the other US allies, who are being pushed by the Americans to give up Russian natural gas and import US LNG, will draw the appropriate conclusions.
Question: What do you think about reports that the United States and Germany wish to postpone Ukraine’s accession to NATO, although Eastern European countries in particular and Kiev itself wish to begin the process as soon as possible?
Maria Zakharova: We have already commented on this matter. Based on the statements we heard from several officials and political figures in NATO countries, we believe that they have postponed or dragged out this matter for one simple reason. Before Ukraine joins NATO, all NATO members must recognise its borders. There is a whole lot of the member states to the west of Ukraine who have their own vision of this country’s new borders.
In fact, they hope to claim Ukrainian territory. To achieve this, they have been laying the historical groundwork and stoking nationalism. It is one of the reasons. I want to stress once again that this claim is based on more than analysis or speculation. We concluded this from official statements by Warsaw, for example.
Question: Are you making diplomatic efforts to develop relations with such countries as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger? Would it be fair to say that you are creating a pro-Russia belt in Africa?
Maria Zakharova: It would be correct to say that the countries you mentioned have created a new organisation, the Alliance of Sahel States, whose policy is aimed at rapprochement with Russia. They want to overcome their neocolonial dependence on their former parent country, France. They believe that Russia can help them do this.
In July 2023, President Putin met with interim President of Burkina Faso Ibrahim Traore on the sidelines of the second Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg, where they took a fundamental decision to stimulate bilateral relations in various spheres.
On the same day, President Putin held an in-depth conversation with interim President of the Republic of Mali Assimi Goïta. The two leaders regularly speak by telephone. The agreements reached in various spheres are being implemented. In October and November 2023, Moscow hosted visits by representative Malian delegations at the minister level who held productive talks with the heads of Russian ministries and agencies. The Economic Development Ministry of Russia and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Mali signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a mechanism for consultations on economic, trade and investment cooperation.
In January 2024, Prime Minister of Niger Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine led a delegation of seven ministers, including the ministers of foreign affairs and of defence, to Moscow. On January 16, 2024, the prime minister of Niger held talks with Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk. His ministers held meetings with the heads of several Russian ministries and agencies, including the Foreign Ministry, the Defence Ministry, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Sport, and Rosatom, during which they reached practical agreements on boosting bilateral cooperation in various spheres.
As for the “belt” you asked about, it would be better to use a name which the countries concerned have coordinated and announced to the international community. If they decide to change the name or encourage an association with something, they have a legitimate right to do this, and we will certainly support their decision. We are not creating any dividing lines, which is a fundamental feature that distinguishes us from the West. It is this element that contributed to their desire to promote cooperation with us and to shake off the burden of endless Western pseudo-domination, which has only resulted in the command-and-control system of lording over them, probably because the West is accustomed to inventing names without any consideration for the interests of those on whom they impose these names.
Question: Russia has not ruled out withdrawing from the Arctic Council if its activities do not conform to Moscow’s interests. The Foreign Ministry made a statement to this effect recently. Do you think there are alternatives to the Arctic Council? Which of its members is Russia still cooperating with, and in what areas?
Maria Zakharova: The Arctic Council was established to ensure sustainable development primarily by the efforts of the Arctic states themselves. There is no point in talking about alternatives or replacements for the Arctic Council, at least for now, because although its operations are minor, it is still functioning. The Arctic Council is still a multilateral instrument for cooperation in the areas that were approved at its ministerial session in Reykjavik and its latest meeting in Salekhard last May
There is a global problem. If the council continues evolving as an institution unfriendly to Russia, we will discuss the expediency of our participation in it. There may be alternatives. We do support the initial rationale behind the creation and development of this organisation.
Question: According to one of the most widespread versions of history, on February 7, 1795, the port of Khadjibey was renamed Odessa at Catherine the Great’s order. Do you think it would be possible to preserve the city’s Russian history or will it be fully erased because of the actions by the Ukrainian authorities?
Maria Zakharova: Since you brought up history, let’s start from the beginning. In the 14th century, the Tatar village of Khadjibey existed in today’s Odessa. The first mention of this village dates back to 1415 when it had belonged to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for some time. From the first half of the 16th century, this territory was under the control of the Crimean Khanate. During the Russo-Turkish war of 1787-1791, it was captured by a Russian military unit under the command of Osip Deribas. Under the 1791 Peace Treaty of Jassy, the village and the fortress remained part of Russia (according to the 1793 census, the village of Khadjibey consisted of 10 households).
The construction of a new fortress began on a hill above the Khadjibey Estuary on June 10 (June 21 on the Gregorian calendar), 1793 on the order of Alexander Suvorov, the commander of troops in southern Russia. Drawings for the fortress were made by Colonel Yegor Ferster.
In 1794, a decision was made, at Osip Deribas’s initiative, to found a city and create a harbour in the Bay of Khadjibey. The future city was laid out on August 22 (September 2 according to the Gregorian calendar), 1794.
On January 27 (February 7 according to the Gregorian calendar), 1795, Catherine the Great issued a “Decree on Forming the Voznesensk Province (Gubernia) from the section given up by the High Porte… and from three districts of the Yekaterinoslav Viceroyalty: the Kherson, Yelisavetgrad and Novomirgorod districts…,” whereby the new Russian city that replaced the village of Khadjibey was called Odessa (after the Hellenic name of the village Odissos that was near this place before).
The Empress’s Code of Decrees stated: “We ordered this Viceroyalty to be divided into 12 counties with the following district and district-assigned cities: 4th Odessa that the Tatars called Gadjibey shall be part of the Tiraspol [dictrict]…”
As for preserving the city’s Russian history, it is not quite appropriate to address this question to us. You can see that the Kiev regime has launched a real war against Russian monuments (the previous American underlings also did much in this respect) and have been part of desecrating historical landmarks, and they continue to behave like this now. The neo-Nazi Kiev regime is depriving Ukrainians and residents of Odessa of their history. It is distorting their rich culture and replacing it with aggressive parochial nationalism permeated by rabid Russophobia, which is alien to the majority of Ukrainians. Nothing and nobody can change the fact that the entire history of territories that are or were part of the current Ukrainian state is inseparable from Russian history. Any attempts to rewrite it are doomed to fail. We have said this many times.
Under the cover of night on December 29, 2022, criminals (this is the right name for them) tore down the monument to the founders of Odessa like a lawless gang. The monument was first created in 1900 but taken down two decades later. The grateful residents of the city restored it in 2007.
Just think to what lunatic place the Kiev-ruled political and ideological system has turned. They are conducting a de-communisation. What is that about? They are doing the reverse of what the communists did. Ironically, they are fully repeating what was done after the revolution, as this monument exemplifies.
The people of Odessa gave credit to the great empress. It was because of her that their territory started rapidly developing as part of the Russian Empire, while Odessa itself became the world-renowned “pearl by the sea.”
For all the implications of destroying these monuments, nothing will change the fact that it was Catherine the Great who made this city’s existence possible. Likewise, destroying the monuments to the greatest military leader, Generalissimo Alexander Suvorov in Odessa and Ismail, will not change the fact that these cities existed and developed only because of the victory of this man and the soldiers he commanded in a battle.
The history of these places, like the entire history of Ukraine, is inseparable from Russian history. Any attempt by the Kiev regime to rewrite it will fail. We are absolutely certain that everything will return to normal. Torn down monuments will be replaced in their lawful places in central Odessa, Ismail and other cities in today’s Ukraine, which continues to suffer under the oppression of aggressive nationalist radicals.
Question: The British newspaper, The Guardian, published an article equating CNN's pro-Israel bias with "journalistic malpractice." The text cited examples of the company's management demanding one-sided coverage of Israel, ignoring the Palestinian voice, emphasising the number of Israeli casualties and questioning data published by the Gaza Health Department. CNN itself denied the allegations and said that its reports on Palestine and Israel were "anything other than fair." Can you comment on this?
Maria Zakharova: How interesting. Was the word "fair" used?
Question: Yes. It’s a quote.
Maria Zakharova: So, apparently, they should not be tolerant now, not remain in line with the "new ethics," not in line with professional attitudes, not balanced, but fair. This is something fresh in Western attitudes towards free speech. It is probably the only thing that can be new. Everything else is the unforgotten old approach.
The fact is that we are not interested in what the Guardian newspaper writes. We absolutely do not need any example from today to form our attitude to the material about Russia shown by CNN.
Monstrous Russophobic propaganda. Not just a lack of objectivity, but a rampant subjective, biased, anti-Russia, Russophobic approach to the coverage of everything related to our country and people. All of this distorts viewers’ perceptions of the real picture of the world as they watch this channel or use its internet resources.
It is obvious that Americans live in some kind of non-existent world painted by their media giants. It is attempts by channels like CNN that make a significant contribution to this overall effort.
Question: China is preparing to celebrate the Spring Festival, the oldest and most important traditional holiday in Chinese culture. The holiday season coincides with the first events of the Cross Years of Culture between Russia and China. We know that you are also studying Chinese culture. What do you think about its significance for world heritage and the need for cultural exchanges between China and Russia?
Maria Zakharova: I have already touched upon this topic today.
First of all, a culture of a major civilisation like China has a significance that can hardly be influenced in any significant way by the opinion of private individuals or even official representatives. Chinese culture is so old, distinctive, rich and generous that it requires no comment, except to popularise the contribution of this great nation that has been there for centuries to the treasures of global civilisation. This is the first point.
Secondly, it is up to culture experts and historians to analyse and study culture – Chinese culture in particular – treating it with appropriate care and reverence.
The events that are planned in Moscow are very important and are intended to better familiarise Muscovites, Russian and foreign tourists with Russian and Chinese culture. It is important to share this knowledge, for both nations to better understand each other, to eradicate any prejudices or even phobias that may have been imposed by others.
The things I’ve seen in the Western press or media outlets that are so clearly biased against Russian-Chinese cooperation! But people need to understand and empathise with each other to be able to appreciate who we are, or what we are to each other (considering that Russia has the second longest border with China and our political interaction is at a historical high).
Some people in China have the opportunity to visit Russia, and vice versa; some live in border regions, but others have no access to the other country’s material heritage. They can read, listen, and so on. The cross year project can help Russians and Chinese get to know each other through attending shows, street festivals and exhibitions; they can feel the atmosphere and understand what the other nation is like and how their worldview is different from ours.
In this context, such special days, holidays that you mentioned, significant dates or other cultural phenomena provide important opportunities for promoting this mutual awareness, because Russian and Chinese holidays, in particular the New Year traditions, involve a variety of genres, arts, folk beliefs and philosophical currents. It is a whole conglomerate of what China has created, experienced, and felt. Today we have a chance to experience this together with the People's Republic of China, which is celebrating its national holiday, one of the three major holidays of the year.
We will be sure to extend our most heartfelt greetings to our Chinese friends. We will send them our best wishes on social media, and we will definitely do it in Chinese on the day the street festivals and other programmes will open in Moscow.
Question: We are aware of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s response to the stunt involving wreaths that was pulled by some vandals at the monument to the children of besieged Leningrad in Yerevan. I look forward to the Armenian court passing the proper ruling with regard to this foolish and unacceptable behaviour. I would also like to know what the Russian Foreign Ministry has to say about Azerbaijan continuing to destroy monuments to heroes and participants of the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War in Artsakh.
Maria Zakharova: Please let me have the related materials, if you have any. I will definitely get back with comments.
Question: We have a question about the Nord Stream pipelines. You have partially covered this in your comments today. What can Russia do in addition to monitoring progress of the investigation conducted by Denmark and Germany? When will Russia release or does it plan to release the findings of its own investigation?
Maria Zakharova: Your second question contains the answer to your first question. What is Russia doing? It’s conducting its own investigation.
As regards the findings, I haven't heard anyone say they plan to classify them. I think everyone will be happy to know what really happened there.
Much effort went into that project, and much hope was invested in establishing productive cooperation. It’s not just about energy. It is also about science, education, a great number of new jobs and, accordingly, the humanitarian sphere (mutual exchanges). There was so much hope. Many people who invested their funds, skills, expertise and knowledge really want to know the answer to this question.
To reiterate, Russia is conducting its own investigation. Our law enforcement bodies have said so. We hope to receive a credible answer to what really happened there.
Question: How do you assess the situation in Gaza where a war has been raging for four months now with tens of thousands casualties. It appears that the Israel Defence Forces are bogged down. Are there any prospects for holding ceasefire talks between Palestinians and Israelis? Is Russia or other countries involved in it as a mediator?
Maria Zakharova: We made it clear on several occasions that the Russian Federation welcomes all constructive initiatives to de-escalate the situation in the Gaza Strip, especially so when regional players, which share the burden of suffering with the countries and peoples of the region, come up with peacekeeping ideas. The countries of the region can and should make a decisive contribution to stabilising the situation in the Middle East. This is our principled assessment.
We reiterate our principled and unwavering position: this conflict of many years cannot be resolved militarily and can only be settled politically and diplomatically by establishing a full-fledged negotiating process on an internationally recognised legal basis which envisages the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem, living in peace and security with Israel.
Regarding mediation, if you are talking about a global initiative implying some major... Frankly, I can't think of anything that would bring all of them together as a group of like-minded partners. We see a large number of mediating efforts addressing specific issues, including the fate of hostages or civilians in Gaza whose situation is dire, the refugees, the displaced persons and the injured, as well as security issues. Many countries (in the Middle East and North Africa, neighbouring countries, and the UN Security Council members) maintain these contacts, and hold regular meetings and talks.
Question: Can we talk about the Nord Stream?
Maria Zakharova: Yes, go ahead.
Question: You mentioned the “compositions” written by Swedish officials. There is a rather interesting angle to it. Are Russian authorities aware of the fact that American journalist Seymour Hersh wrote that after Donbass it was in the day before the P-2 plane flew out of Keflavik Airport, Iceland, and that Norwegians were directly involved in this? Did the boats leave Norwegian waters where American saboteurs presumably were the day before?
Maria Zakharova: Our law enforcement agencies are collecting evidence. We have provided on many occasions and in various formats our political assessment of the developments surrounding Nord Stream pipelines and European energy policy, as well as the impact of the United States on this situation.
The direct involvement of the United States is obvious. First, it came in the form of threats to disrupt the project, then threats to destroy it. The United States clearly interfered in the domestic affairs of the countries that participated in the Nord Stream project and whose territory was used for this project, as well as the countries that invested in it, or were gas recipients.
These external acts give ample ground to talk about the involvement of the United States in all aspects of this, what I think, is an absolutely tragic development for Europe. There is nothing to hide here. We have discussed this on many occasions.
With regard to specific deployment of military equipment, surveillance equipment, NATO equipment, and individual representatives of NATO countries, equipment, etc., this data is being collected by our investigators. They use different sources to collect them, including witness testimonies and eyewitnesses. Materials provided by journalists are considered as well. Rest assured, this information gets corroborated.
Regrettably, we are not in a position to obtain information from the countries that conduct their own investigations, such as Sweden, Denmark, or Germany. However, this is also a telling indicator of what is going on. First, the influence exerted by the United States. Second, they are either reluctant to disclose the truth, or bent on covering the truth up. These two things are interconnected.
Question: Israel’s new ambassador to Russia gave an interview to Kommersant. The ambassador’s answers, “distorting Russia’s foreign policy approaches and historical realities,” provoked a reaction from your department. Could you explain why the parties differ in their positions and assessments?
Maria Zakharova: First, yesterday the Israeli ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry. A conversation took place with the Deputy Foreign Minister, who also has the status of Special Representative of the President of Russia for the Middle East, Mikhail Bogdanov. All the complaints that we have in connection with these approaches were voiced. This is not just an interview with an unfortunate set of phrases. As we understand, these are (it does not matter whether they are personal, party or some other) formulated approaches. They have been expressed.
In parallel with this, our Ministry published a refutation of the points that we consider false (or, in today’s terms, fake), ahistorical and non-scientific. They were posted on our accounts on social networks, on the ministry’s website, and in the newspaper that initially published the interview with the Israeli Ambassador.
Do I have to say all of this? I think not. You can find these quotes, there are a lot of them.
Question: Is there any counterterrorism cooperation with the Georgian authorities regarding the explosives intended for terrorist attacks on Russian territory that Georgian special services discovered?
Maria Zakharova: This is yet another episode showing the true nature of the Kiev regime.
This “gang formation” feels absolute impunity, is encouraged by its Western curators, and continues to employ terror, copying the methods of the most odious terrorist organisations. Ukrainian neo-Nazis hide behind civilians as a human shield, setting up firing positions and ammunition depots in schools and hospitals, shooting refugees, torturing Russian prisoners of war, posting videos of their abuse and showing executions online.
Recently, the Kiev regime has resorted to committing regular barbaric terrorist attacks against Russian cities and civilians. The Banderites exclusively target civilian facilities: markets, shops, pharmacies, schools, kindergartens, and all types of social institutions. The goal is to strike a crowd of people so that there are as many victims as possible. Of course, the psychological aspect is also taken into account, because this is what is so important for terrorists. As I have already said: Belgorod December 30, 2023; Donetsk, January 21, 2024 and Lisichansk, February 3, 2024.
This time, we have witnessed another attempt to smuggle explosives deep into Russian territory through Georgia to organise terrorist attacks.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Georgia, its territory (and people back then) have been used by virtually everyone who wants to destabilise the situation in the post-Soviet space and use terrorist methods. Let me remind you about the rampant international terrorism in the North Caucasus, when it was through the territory of Georgia that international terrorists smuggled or tried to smuggle (sometimes it worked, sometimes it was stopped) weapons, ammunition, money and drugs, without which terrorism is no longer “complete” in its characteristics, both then and now, using the example of the Kiev regime.
We remember how those who were behind the transit of international terrorists to Russia, who welcomed these same militants and extremists in Washington and London, did everything to turn Georgia into a transit point for international terrorism, creating something like a tourist trail through gorges. We all remember this well. As far as I know, this is well remembered in Georgia. It is important not to forget what they wanted to do to us, to our countries and peoples back in the 1990s, how they pushed us and provoked us.
As for the Russian-Georgian interaction on anti-terrorism issues, we would recommend contacting the competent Russian departments for appropriate comments.
Question: Aeroflot has just resumed regular air service with Vietnam. Could you please describe bilateral relations as they stand as of the end of 2023? What can you say about Vietnam's outlook for joining BRICS?
Maria Zakharova: First, bilateral relations with Vietnam are making steady progress which is facilitated by the political dialogue between the leaders of the two countries. I would like to remind you that last year President Putin held talks with the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vo Van Thuong, on the sidelines of the Third International Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin (October 2023) and Chairman of United Russia Party and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev (May 2023) visited Vietnam last year as well.
Our mutual commitment to deepening comprehensive strategic partnership amid the unprecedented transformation of the global geopolitical landscape was reaffirmed during these contacts.
Our relations are gradually adapting to new realities. Trade with Vietnam was up by 7.8 percent in January-November 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 and reached $4.5 billion. We are working with our Vietnamese friends to find ways to overcome existing challenges. This theme was central during the meeting of the bilateral intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, and scientific-technical cooperation held in Hanoi in April 2023.
Mutually beneficial cooperation continues in the oil and gas sector as part of the activities of oil and gas exploration and production companies, such as Vietsovpetro and Rusvietpetro, operating in Vietnam and Russia, respectively. Necessary conditions have been created for their stable and effective operation going forward.
GAZ vehicles are assembled in Vietnam at the GAZ-Thanh Dat joint venture. In 2023, 1,150 vehicles were assembled, and a portion of the output was shipped to Laos and the Philippines.
We focus on research and education ties. Region-to-region contacts have intensified, including with the participation of Moscow and St Petersburg, and the Rostov and Kaluga regions. Last July, Days of Russian Culture were successfully held in this Southeast Asian country.
Much work has been done to restore direct regular air service between our countries which is important, because Vietnamese resorts were widely popular with Russian tourists before the pandemic (in 2019, more than 570,000 of Russian tourists visited the Socialist Republic of Vietnam). Resuming flights between Moscow and Ho Chi Minh City and hopefully to other cities will be instrumental for rapidly increasing tourist exchanges.
The likelihood of Vietnam joining BRICS is widely covered. This question should be addressed to the Vietnamese side. We operate on the belief that joining the association is a matter better left to a specific country and its people to decide whether they want to go down this path. Vietnam is a dynamically developing economy and a prominent representative of the Asian region. If our Vietnamese partners are interested in consolidating interaction with the association, we will be willing, alongside other BRICS members, to consider possible ways of integrating Hanoi into this format.
To provide an example, I can cite significant added value that could be obtained if the Vietnamese representatives were to participate in the Outreach/BRICS Plus events. Moreover, in light of the instruction issued by the leaders following the Johannesburg Summit (August 22-24, 2023), we could refine the modalities for a partner country category and compile a list of possible candidates. This option could be considered as well. In any case, according to the BRICS traditions, decisions regarding such matters need consensus support from all members of the association. In any case, it all starts with the country’s decision.
Question: Of course, transferring the $300 billion in frozen Russian assets deposited in the West to
But what about the mysterious statements by Russian politicians saying that
Will this be limited to confiscating equity from Western financial criminals? This would be fine from a moral standpoint since these assets are only speculative.
Or could it be that you intend to confiscate the Russian affiliates of German, Austrian or Swiss family-owned businesses that invest in
Is there risk for me, a small business owner, Hans Muller, from Vertlino, a village near Solnechnogorsk, that my house would be confiscated just because I hold the wrong passport? In
Maria Zakharova: I really liked it when you talked about “shooting yourself in the foot.” Congratulations on coming up with this brilliant metaphor.
What I cannot understand is why you referred to retaliatory measures as being mysterious? There is no mystery here. The principle of reciprocity guides us in our retaliatory measures. You can hardly talk about a tit-for-tat response here, which is a term diplomats tend to use. When it comes to diplomatic staff and foreign missions, this is a matter of equivalency, respecting agreements and ensuring parity. All countries have their own laws and their own specific ways of running their economies and financial institutions. What is so mysterious about that?
Any measure targeting our country will not be left without a response, as coordinated by various agencies in
Make no mistake – the European Union knows well that the response would be very serious and painful for them. So I believe that we are not the ones to answer these questions.
I believe that as a German national, you must refer them to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and other members of the German government. Ask them whether they believed, while plotting measures against Russia, that we would not go beyond speculative financial assets or targeting affiliates of family owned business, or that your countryside cottage in Vertlino will also be affected by our response?
When
They must definitely share this information with you, and it is your duty to demand that they do so, since you are their taxpayer. They hold their mandate from you. I do not know whom you voted for, but as someone belonging to the people of
As for us, we will make an interagency effort to devise our retaliatory measures, as I said.
Question: If you allow me, I pay my taxes in
Maria Zakharova: No question about that. I have already answered your question on our response measures and the way we will devise them.
Once again, you were talking about businesses, companies, property and assets in
Please refer your question to those who stand at the roots of this hybrid war as a method for dealing with our country. I think they are the ones to answer it. They have a system in place for gathering this information and the analytical capability to sift through this intelligence data.
Question: They are not smart enough for that.
Maria Zakharova: I do not think I can respond to this. They are all affluent people who have succeeded in their lives. They have their homes, cars and bank accounts. They earned academic degrees and titles, so they are quite well off. I would not refer to them as not being smart.
But this is not the point. They may be seeking to subvert their own countries by acting against their own people and earning bonuses from third parties, including from
I want to say the following. If ten or so years ago, the Germans had been told what economic performance results were in store for them in 2023 – a recession, capital flight, businesses transferred to the US economic sector and Washington’s control, etc. – many of them, I am sure, would have been shocked. They would have thought that this misfortune could only have befallen them as a result of a direct foreign aggression against Germany, or a trade war.
Ten years ago, it seems to me, hardly any resident of Germany would have suspected that these disastrous economic consequences have been brought about by the consistent steps taken by German leadership representing different parties and movements, including by the coalition government. They are Germans by citizenship, ethnic culture, political views and conviction. They represent various ethnic groups. At that time, I think, no one would have believed this. Today, however, this is reality.
The crowning result of this is the destruction of the gas pipeline which stably supplied Germany with inexpensive, high-quality fuel, based, among other things, on German corporate investment. Back then, it was unthinkable that anything like this would happen or that Berlin would not urge the international community, specifically the UN Security Council, to conduct an investigation. Nor one could imagine that Germany would not resort to international court arbitration but would instead humbly tolerate immense economic losses both now and in the future.
These are the topics that should be on the agenda of the International Criminal Court and the UN Security Council. This terrorist attack against an international civilian infrastructure system is a universal blow, including a blow to expensive international environmental efforts.
Instead, it is being suggested that both the international community and the international courts focus on non-existent things based on misinformation. The discussion revolves around manipulations, insinuations, stage-managed provocations like Bucha, or concocted stories that Russia allegedly steals Ukrainian children.
This baseless approach is consuming human resources, funds and capabilities that could otherwise be used to investigate a terrorist attack that has taken place in reality and will have long-term consequences in many areas. Let me remind you that US officials warned the international community that they would find an opportunity to initiate this. The year 2024 was on the calendar…
Question: Russia, Iran and China are conducting joint naval exercises near the Middle East, where the United States and its allies are taking aggressive military measures. What can their reaction to these exercises be?
Maria Zakharova: First, I do not agree with you in that the United States and its allies are taking aggressive military measures. These are not aggressive military measures but armed aggression against sovereign states, which has led to the death of civilians and service personnel in many countries across the region.
Second, it is the United States’ aggressive actions. They are based on the philosophy of ruining peace, security and stability, which are taking shape in the region. Of course, the situation in the region was far from stable, but instability has increased dramatically today.
As for the US reaction to the joint exercises underway in the region, I suggest that you ask them. Unlike the United States and Britain, we do not intend to destabilise the situation. We have concrete common objectives and plans with our partners and allies, and we are implementing this agenda without threatening anyone. As for the other side’s reaction to that, you should ask them.
Question: You said at the previous briefing that the United States was deliberately trying to draw the largest regional countries into the conflict. Does this risk remain? What other countries – Iran, Iraq or Syria – can be involved in that conflict?
Maria Zakharova: First, the risk not only remains but is growing. Second, nobody knows which countries are in the risk zone. We don’t know what idea President Biden will stumble upon tomorrow. Nobody knows. I presume there are people in the “deep state” who write his speeches and who approve, or force or urge him to approve illegal, illegitimate and unlawful decisions.
The United States’ policy is absolutely unpredictable when it comes to maintaining peace and security. Moreover, it is dangerously unpredictable because it is not based on delicate diplomatic actions aimed at settling crises. It is unpredictable because of the insane actions aimed at destabilisation, either deliberately or unwittingly, due to a number of reasons that result in destabilisation. What are these implicit actions and reasons? They are the deficiency of skills to settle crises and a desire to use the international situation for internal political considerations. It has become clear now. The next US presidential election will be held in less than six months. The international situation has always been a factor in election campaigns in the United States. But they are no longer orderly campaigns. I would describe them as bare-knuckle brawls. I can’t say if it is the result of the lack of knowledge or skills to settle international crises, or internal fighting, or just an attempt to deal with internal economic problems or global crises by distracting public attention, destabilising the situation, or gaining control of the territory of other countries to profit from the sale of their resources. It could be a combination. As for countries in the risk zone, they are the countries that are ready to fight back, have an independent national policy based on international law and are willing to defend it on all fronts, from the economy to military-political matters. The other countries are probably not in the risk zone.
Question: Could US actions expedite the withdrawal of US forces from the region? The Iraqi government, for one, has raised this jssue.
Maria Zakharova: But there are countries that have agreed to the deployment of US troops in the region.
Let us just talk about the countries that have been trying for many years to persuade the United States to withdraw its contingents from their territory. I am not sure if this will expedite their withdrawal. If you remember, they tried to leave Iraq for many years, and you know how the situation developed. They withdrew, then came back, took another decision, and it all culminated in a terrible bloodbath. I believe this will provoke discussions in many countries and will elevate them to a new political level. This will certainly happen.
Question: How could aggravated US-Iranian relations influence the situation in the Gaza Strip?
Maria Zakharova: The aggravation of any regional situation would be a factor exacerbating the already terrible situation in the Gaza Strip.
We have outlined everything that needs to be done to reverse the process so that we see at least some light at the end of the tunnel, a hope for an improvement, if not the improvement itself. This includes a ceasefire, letting humanitarian organisations start full-scale effort without any preconditions, and launching the process of settlement (actual or with some kind of political preamble) in accordance with international law and in the context of establishing the two-state model.
Any aggravation, caused by diverse factors (for example, the desire to distract attention or address domestic US and Western issues), will only exacerbate the situation for the civilian population and for the countries in the region. As a representative of a media outlet from a country bordering on regional states, you basically have an insider’s knowledge of this matter.
Question: How would you comment on French President Emmanuel Macron's statement that Paris has a responsibility to provide its nuclear capabilities to the EU? Is this even allowed under international law?
Maria Zakharova: This is a complicated question. I would prefer to have a few clarifications on the matter.
I can confirm that we have seen that statement made during Emmanuel Macron's recent visit to Sweden. I would like to remind you that nuclear weapons are an extremely sensitive issue and one needs to be especially cautious with words, carefully selecting their terms and phrases and thoroughly studying any subtleties that are worth studying.
As far as we know, Paris claims that France continues to adhere to the principle of maintaining national control over its nuclear forces; moreover, France excludes the possibility of delegating the right to use them to anyone. It is important to be clear about this, given NATO’s “nuclear sharing” policy. This practice has been in place for many years and has to do with the use of US tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Europe.
What is meant by this “nuclear sharing”? It is clear to everyone that NATO countries that house American nuclear weapons on the European continent aren’t allowed anywhere near those weapons, let alone making decisions on their use. This is solely the prerogative of the United States. They use the term “sharing” and conduct joint maneuvers; at the same time, we understand that the countries where these weapons are deployed do not have full control of this situation.
Although a member of the bloc, Paris has so far distanced itself from participating in its “joint nuclear missions,” even though it supports the inflammatory rhetoric about NATO being a “nuclear alliance.” Perhaps France has a special role different from other countries, because it is a nuclear power in its own right.
From whom is Emmanuel Macron going to protect the EU members, especially by using nuclear weapons? Good question. I would like some clarification. If our country is meant as the potential aggressor, he should have said so. That would mean that, again, we are dealing with groundless fantasies about the mythical Russian threat to the European Union and NATO, which exists only in the fevered imagination of Western politicians.
Our approach was formed many centuries ago – do not “come to us with a sword,” and we will live in peace, stability and mutually beneficial relations. But if anyone creates a threat to our country’s existence, doing everything they can to threaten Russia’s national security, then, as we have said many times, we will respond, as we did in the 19th and 20th centuries. Russia never attacked France. France not only attacked Russia, Napoleon reached Moscow, so we walked him back to Paris. Thinking about European history, we were also attacked by Germany, and naturally, had to reciprocate.
The kind of dubious rhetoric that Emmanuel Macron chose to use only further increases mistrust and the potential for conflict on the European continent. If the French side seeks to further ratchet up tension (unfortunately, this can be deduced from its policy in Ukraine), then it is confidently moving towards its goal.
Now let’s ask this question again. Is Paris really prepared to take responsibility for its imprudent European allies who are dreaming of escalating the situation in Europe and a war with Russia? From what we have heard and read, they want to take it “to the bitter end,” to inflict a “strategic defeat.”
As a reminder, since the time of Charles de Gaulle, the French nuclear arsenal has been considered one of the main pillars of France’s national sovereignty and independent foreign policy. Even after returning to NATO’s military bodies in 2009, Paris retained its nuclear deterrent forces under national jurisdiction. Any “Europeanisation” (or, better, NATOisation or Anglo-Saxonisation?) of France’s nuclear arsenal is actually putting it at the service of someone’s interests but it certainly isn’t France’s – maybe “collective Brussels” or other overseas comrades – we need more information to tell.
If this is the general direction in which France’s foreign policy is heading, then France is increasingly losing its former independence, subsumed in the shared approaches of the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union.
I spelled out Russia’s approach. For us, this is a sign of the destruction of the remnants of the former European security system.
Whether this is good or bad for France, is up to the French to decide. We will draw our own conclusions and take appropriate steps based on the concrete steps taken in Paris.
Question: Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stated that, for a number of reasons, Russia cannot be Armenia's key partner in defence and military and technical cooperation. Did Moscow receive any signals from Yerevan about winding down cooperation in this area? What do you make of these statements?
Maria Zakharova: Following Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan’s statement, I would like to stress that our countries remain allies. The Armenian people’s interests are inseparable from its neighbourly ties with Russia. We hope that the Armenian leadership will take this into account in view of the ongoing geopolitical transformation and will make the right choice – not a choice that Russia sees as right but a choice that corresponds with the Armenian nation’s interests.
Speaking about practical issues, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia have a solid bilateral legal framework regulating security and their military and technical cooperation. This framework consists of the 1997 Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, the 1995 agreement on establishing a Russian military base in Armenia, the 2015 agreements on establishing the Integrated Regional Anti-Aircraft Defence System, and the 2000 agreement on joint combat anti-aircraft standby duty. Both countries have obligations to each other, including defence of sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
Yerevan is covered by collective guarantees within the CSTO, including in case of potential aggression. For the purpose of developing and strengthening the Collective Security Treaty, in 2016 Russia and Armenia signed the Agreement on a Unified Group of Forces to ensure the parties’ security in the Caucasus collective security region. In this context, returning to extensive cooperation within the CSTO is mainly in the interests of Armenia itself. A broad range of capabilities provided by this organisation are at Yerevan’s disposal. The CSTO’s capabilities are based on years of experience. We are confident that, unlike pseudo-observers from the EU missions who deal with issues unrelated to their declared goals, the CSTO can actually play a stabilising role in the South Caucasus.
Question: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the South Caucasus is now essentially part of the European Union, noting that Georgia had been granted official EU candidate status and Türkiye is already a member. What is the Foreign Ministry’s opinion about Armenia’s intention to join the European Union and its declaration that the Caucasus is part of the EU?
Maria Zakharova: I have never heard of membership being self-proclaimed. Also, every state has a sovereign right to determine its national course (if it is a democracy) according to the nation’s wishes and interests. We have stated this many times: all countries are free to choose what they need.
I have just listed our security agreements that contain mutual obligations. There is a similar legal framework regulating our trade, economic relations and humanitarian links. Everybody knows and understands that. How these issues correlate is not a question for us. We adhere to our part of all these obligations. They are not just empty words to us; they concern the interests of our peoples, business owners, citizens and families.
There are political statements and there is the life of a particular nation. It is the job of every statesperson and the entire host of government bodies to remember that the nation is the priority. Things should be done for its benefit and to achieve the goals determined by the people, as far as democracy is concerned. Everything else should be decided inside every sovereign state and balanced with reality, needs, wishes, and so on.
Question: President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa has said that his country will send to Ukraine, via the United States, Soviet- and Russian-made weapons despite Russia’s criticism. How can this influence bilateral relations? Will Moscow retaliate?
Maria Zakharova: The Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation published a statement to this effect on January 24, 2024, and the Foreign Ministry posted a commentary on February 2, 2024. I will cite their key points. Under Article 4 of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Ecuador signed on November 27, 2008, “the transfer of military products received in the process of bilateral military-technical cooperation to a third country cannot be implemented without a written permission of the Russian Federation.” Similar requirements have been included in the contracts on the delivery of such products.
By transferring Russian-made military products to a third country, Ecuador will violate its international obligations. This can lead to negative consequences for our bilateral cooperation in the future. As for possible penalties, this is the competence of the agencies responsible for military-technical cooperation.
Question: Can we expect diplomatic demarches?
Maria Zakharova: We are already taking action. I’m not sure you can describe this as demarches, but we have notified Ecuador of our attitude and provided links to the relevant clauses in our bilateral contracts and agreements.
The Russian Embassy in Ecuador is working energetically in this sphere. We maintain contacts, and the Ecuadoran side is well aware of the situation. There is no ambiguity in our position.
Question: The US Department of State has announced the extension of the US continental shelf in the Arctic and in the Bering Sea to one million square kilometers. According to Bloomberg, the Arctic in this area contains about 25 percent of global oil and gas resources. Canada and Russia have also laid claim to that area. Is the Foreign Ministry conducting negotiations with the United States and Canada regarding this? Has this produced any results?
Maria Zakharova: Today is a day of nice surprises for me. First, it was “shooting in the back.” And second, thank you for calling it what it is. It’s “Blumberg,” of course. Saying it any other way would be wrong.
In accordance with the standard procedure for establishing the outer limits of continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, coastal states are to make submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, as stipulated in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982).The commission is an expert agency that issues recommendations on matters related to the extension of the outer limits of their continental shelf. Upon receiving these recommendations, coastal countries with competing claims for extending their continental shelf are required to delimit new boundaries between them, which shall be final and binding.
I would like to remind you that the United States, which is not a signatory to the 1982 Convention unlike the other Arctic states, has unilaterally announced the extension of the outer limits of its continental shelf. Russia’s authorised agencies, including the Foreign Ministry, are considering response actions, which will be taken without a doubt.
As for negotiations with the United States and Canada regarding the “extended” shelf, all contacts on Arctic matters have been suspended (we are not to blame for this) in the context of the anti-Russia core of the Anglo-Saxons’ policy.
Question: In 1994, the first president of the Russian Federation, Boris Yeltsin, signed the Moscow Declaration, which included a pledge to detarget Russia’s strategic nuclear missiles. He also issued Executive Order 129-RP to enforce this. Today, 30 years later, isn’t it time to revise the declaration and retarget our missiles?
Maria Zakharova: We have commented on this topic multiple times. In particular, I would like to draw your attention to the press release of August 11, 2023, which can be found on the Foreign Ministry’s official website. Among other things, it states that the mutual detargeting of strategic nuclear missiles is mentioned not only in the 1994 bilateral declaration you have referred to, but also, for example, in the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapon States of January 3, 2022.
Regarding the reliability of the nuclear deterrent, I recommend that you address this question to the competent experts from the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. Personally, I have no doubt that it is reliable. I suggest that you confirm this for yourself by obtaining a specific answer.
Question: The United States has deployed a powerful task force overseas and is attacking other countries, such as Syria, where a Russian military base is located. Is the US violating international law with these acts of aggression? What is the Russian Foreign Ministry doing to resolve the conflict?
Maria Zakharova: The United States has violated international law, both independently and in collaboration with other accomplices, such as the UK and other countries involved in this reckless undertaking.
Russia, for its part, convenes the UN Security Council and addresses this issue from an international legal standpoint, providing a clear definition.
Are we alone in expressing these assessments? By no means. The majority of countries that constitute the international community adhere to the same stance. There is no other way to describe these actions.
When the Anglo-Saxons accuse someone based on what they call “precedent law” (you are to blame for this or that because you did it and have always done it), I would like to remind them, since their judicial systems are based on the same precedent law, that they themselves have violated international law because they have always behaved this way. Over the past few decades, they have committed numerous acts of aggression against sovereign independent states (occupying them, killing large numbers of people, and reducing countries to ruins) to the extent that, unfortunately, this has become the norm and yet another addition to the long list of their crimes, rather than something unexpected.
Question: Estonia is planning to reinter Soviet soldiers. When the Soviet territories were handed out in 1991, they were given to the local population. We turned a blind eye to numerous violations in order to make things better for them, as we thought. Now, the local people are being turned into cannon fodder and used to erase history. NATO plans to stretch this process out for it to last many decades. Once they run out of Ukrainians, they will use Estonians, then Poles, and so on. Isn't it time to admit our mistakes and think about reclaiming these territories through legal means?
Maria Zakharova: As a reminder, just a few days ago, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Estonia’s temporary charge d'affaires to address the impending reburials you mentioned. The issue concerns the Soviet soldiers and a military cemetery in Tallinn. Information about the summoning of the ambassador is posted on our website. I believe you’ve seen it.
The reburial “project” violates international legal standards and the practice of handling the graves of combat veterans. It was made clear that what Estonia plans to do is unacceptable, since the authorities have not even obtained consent from the relatives. Overall, the zeal shown by the authorities of the Baltic and other countries (in the Baltic countries, it is elevated to the rank of political ideology and enshrined at the state level) in their war on monuments as they carry out literally vandalistic reburials of remains demonstrate an obsession bordering on necrophilia.
The paranoid fixation on “fighting” monuments and “disturbing” the remains has taken on a quality of a satanic cult. This is more of an artistic metaphor than a legal assessment. The sheer number of heinous acts perpetrated by the Baltic authorities and the intensity of propaganda that they are pummelling their own people with in order to reassure them that the authorities are doing the right thing conjures up such images. Something is clearly amiss in the mental department.
Speaking specifically about international law, the term “national liberation movement” is used to describe decolonisation and other processes where people are fighting for liberation from foreign domination. I won’t delve into the legal intricacies of this issue as it is beyond the scope of our discussion.
On a broader scale, it is worth noting that the attainment of independence by former colonies did not entirely eradicate the colonial mindset, approaches, and practices of the former colonial powers. Today, with the collective West clinging to its bygone hegemony, fighting against neocolonialism becomes increasingly important, and Russia is actively facilitating the process of final decolonisation.
As for “reclaiming territories,” we believe that bilateral agreements with the countries in the form of treaties of friendship and neighbourliness implied commitments assumed by the Soviet republics when the Soviet Union broke up. This is more of a legal assessment than a political assessment. These are the obligations that need to be complied with. The most interesting part is that these obligations do not serve solely to ensure the rights of the citizens who benefit from the outcomes of these agreements. These obligations also serve as guarantees of statehood in these countries, since they are supposed to ensure the consolidation and exercise of the rights of the peoples in these countries.
A global failure to fulfil these agreements immediately sets off a chain reaction within these countries regardless of other countries’ stand on this matter: people see the failure to fulfil obligations under the agreements and the violation of their rights due to the impossibility of exercising or upholding these rights. We see this in Ukraine and, unfortunately, now in Moldova, too.
When they refuse to fulfil obligations under the agreements that were concluded following their withdrawal from the Soviet Union after it broke up, they set irreversible processes in motion. This is not my assessment. These are specific factual data and historical realities. They'd better think about where these anti-humane policies towards their own people will lead them.
Whether they consider the multiethnic population of their countries as their own population or, deep down, their own ideology segregates people into those who are “worthy of life” and those “unworthy of a good life,” is a different matter. It's a good question that arises increasingly often.
Question: Ukraine has been Nazified, and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and the Baltics are moving in the same direction. NATO has deployed its bases on these territories, and the United States is grooming and installing its agents there. Understandably, they are leading these countries towards a Ukrainian-style scenario. What measures are we implementing to prevent an impending disaster?
Maria Zakharova: I would not describe all countries so drastically. In our opinion, it is impossible to measure the states, mentioned in your question, by the same yardstick. So far, it is impossible to compare processes that have picked up momentum in neighbouring Ukraine with anything else.
I would like to ask you not to draw any similarities with regard to the countries that you have mentioned. Of course, some foreign players are striving to effect a Ukrainian-style scenario on the territory of other countries. In their opinion, greater worldwide chaos would benefit an entire range of global elites even more. This is their reason for living. Obviously, there are also forces hampering the spread of a Ukrainian-type scenario inside former Soviet states. This is very important to acknowledge.
Speaking of the Baltics, they became NATO’s anti-Russia outpost long ago. This is their role, and they pay them for this. Selling Russophobia to the West and exchanging their anti-Russia actions for money, aid, handouts, etc. is the main contributor to their GDP and their economy’s main source of income.
We regularly note that the United States and its NATO allies are not abandoning their attempts to strengthen their influence in the former Soviet region, seen as a zone of geopolitical rivalry with Russia. They strive to consolidate their presence in the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia in order to manipulate the local political situation.
Their main goal is to sever historical ties between these states and Russia, to undermine integration processes that involve Russia. For this purpose, they are using all conceivable tools, including thematic projects in various spheres, close interaction with young people, media resources and pet NGOs.
Russia’s interaction with our multiple neighbours in the post-Soviet space can be characterised as alliances and partnerships. Long-time friendly relations and mutually beneficial economic ties bind our countries. We implement military and military-technical cooperation projects. They are Russia’s partners in various integration-oriented associations, including the Eurasian Economic Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. All this results in mutual benefits and concrete results.
Moscow strives to build upon relations with its neighbours on the basis of equality, mutual respect for each other’s interests and the indivisible security principle. However, it does not seek to dominate them or implement neo-colonial practices, the way the Anglo-Saxons are doing. Moscow takes the same approach with regard to all other foreign countries. In most cases, the leadership of these countries adequately perceives threats stemming from NATO-imposed interaction, and it values good relations with Russia.
We are working closely with all our partners in the post-Soviet space; we consider their distinctive features and realities in the context of all topical foreign political issues.
We conduct regular dialogue on sensitive issues related to our common history. We note that it would be extremely risky to allow the West into sensitive spheres. This is about the security of these states, and it has nothing to do with our preferences or desires. We cite specific examples. Of course, national security issues are no exception either.
Question: Head of the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department Aleksey Klimov has said recently that there are plans to open information and consultation centres that will provide consular services to Russian nationals in eight countries. Will such centres be open in Europe and the Baltic states, where a large number of Russians live? Is the Foreign Ministry considering the involvement of Russian nationals residing in these countries, given the significant reduction in staff at Russian consulates due to the expulsion of diplomats?
Maria Zakharova: I can confirm our intention to open information and consultation centres to provide consular services to compatriots in an entire range of countries.
Our medium-term plans to open information and consultation centres in foreign countries are reflected in the draft order of the ministry. The decision to implement the project in other foreign states will be made after assessing the demand for such services in the countries outlined in the draft order, in addition to the existing centres in a number of countries.
Question: Our compatriots from Slovakia are holding the Moscow International Open festival of ballroom dance in Moscow this weekend. We invite you to attend. More than a thousand participants will dance to the patriotic music, The Bells of Moscow. We are confident that if all conflicts on our planet were resolved on the dance floor, there would be no wars. So, we invite you to the festival.
Maria Zakharova: Thank you very much for the invitation. I always thought that the musical piece you referred to is a march, I was not aware that it is also used as ballroom dance music. But there is probably a lot I still don’t know.
Question: This year, Moscow and the whole of Russia are celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year on a scale never seen before. You are a highly regarded China and East Asia specialist. What could you wish the citizens of our country ahead of the Lunar New Year? Why is this holiday so important to the Chinese?
Maria Zakharova: My greetings would be pretty typical. I think I end every briefing with wishes of global wellbeing. “Wellbeing” can mean so many things and this greeting is suitable for all occasions.
Why is this holiday so important to China? I can answer this question not just from the international affairs point of view. I actually wrote a thesis on the traditional Lunar New Year. This holiday has roots in the popular method of time reckoning used by the Asian peoples, in the agricultural cycles and the agrarian calendar. It is based on the lunar and solar phases, as well as the agricultural cycles.
This holiday is deeply rooted in traditional beliefs and people’s emotional perception of nature around them, the natural phenomena, and the seasonal change. This experience has been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. There are works of art describing this experience and the emotions associated with it.
There are many beliefs and customs related to this holiday, reflected in everything from folk arts and crafts to cuisine and performances. This festival runs for several weeks and has many aspects associated with faith, rituals, customs, and regional specifics. I wrote 250 pages about it. I have quoted just the first page.
Question: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the Ukrainian army’s strikes on Lisichansk. Are there other Western or European leaders, who had the courage to denounce the attack?
Maria Zakharova: No. Let’s talk about the countries that are involved in this situation, the countries that raise and send money to support the Kiev regime, and the countries that were politically involved in building the new (as they called it) democratic state of Ukraine.
Not only has none of them had the courage to give a political or legal assessment; they have never shown so much as human sympathy for the civilian hostages to Zelensky’s madness and the insanity of his criminal inner circle.
It is another matter that many other states representing the Global Majority did express their stance on this issue, including at the UN Security Council meeting [dedicated to this tragedy].
You are asking me about the countries responsible for the Ukraine crisis. They are not ready to make such statements, nor have they displayed any human feelings.
Question: I also would like to join the greetings in connection with the upcoming holiday [Diplomat’s Day]. I wish you and your colleagues good luck and patience in your difficult work for the benefit of our country.
Maria Zakharova: Thank you very much.
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