Excerpts from the briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, January 26, 2024
- First meeting of the BRICS sherpas/sous-sherpas
- Organising the Russian presidential election abroad
- Update on Ukraine
- Russia-based Ukrainian scam call centres are targeting the EU
- European producers resent the open door policy for Ukrainian agricultural exports
- Republic of Korea accuses Russia of providing military and technical assistance to the DPRK
- Upcoming NATO military exercise, Steadfast Defender 2024, poised to be the largest in decades
- The 25th anniversary of the 1999 events in Racak
- Anti-Serbian repression in Kosovo
- International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the Day of Lifting the Siege of Leningrad (January 27, 1944)
- 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Peru
- The day Soviet troops defeated the Nazis in the Battle of Stalingrad (February 2, 1943)
- Statements of NATO Secretary General
- Acts of vandalism against monuments of the Great Patriotic War in Moldova
- Sweden's accession to NATO
- Growth of the global nuclear threat
- Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement
- Reaction to the crash of IL-76 in the Belgorod Region
- Migration situation in the United States
- Public debt repayment by Moldova
- Status of Russian peacekeepers in Transnistria
- Russia's reaction to NATO exercises
- China's White Paper on combating terrorism
- Third countries' reaction to Sweden's accession to NATO
- Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation
- Russia's relations with African countries
- Sergey Lavrov's contacts on the sidelines of the UN Security Council
- Statements by the Chinese Ambassador to France
- Multipolar world
- Contacts of foreign diplomats with Russian citizens
- Interim decision of the UN International Court of Justice in South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel
- Military operation of the West in the Red Sea
- Terrorist attack in Central Asia
- Iran's missile attack on Iraqi Kurdistan
- Statements by Ararat Mirzoyan
- The legal basis of Ukraine's sovereignty
- Amendments to the military doctrine of the Russian Federation
First meeting of the BRICS sherpas/sous-sherpas
From January 30 to February 1, Moscow will host the first meeting of BRICS sherpas/sous-sherpas in this year of Russia’s chairmanship. The meeting will include a speech by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a session called BRICS Strategic Partnership as a Pillar of Multilateralism.
The main priorities of Russia’s "watch" over the association will be presented. We look forward to a thorough and substantive exchange of views with our partners on the range of tasks facing BRICS this year.
The motto of Russia’s BRICS year will be Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security. In total, more than 200 events at various levels are planned, which will be hosted by over a dozen Russian cities.
During its chairmanship, Russia will work within BRICS on the basis of consensus and continuity. Cooperation will continue in the key areas of strategic partnership in politics and security, the economy and finance, and culture and humanitarian ties. We plan to focus on enhancing foreign policy coordination, primarily at leading international forums, as well as cooperate on combating terrorism, money laundering, corruption, threats in the information space, and so on.
We attach particular importance to the organic inclusion of new members in all BRICS cooperation formats. In pursuance of the resolutions of the 15th BRICS Summit, it is necessary to develop modalities for a new category of BRICS partner states.
Organising the Russian presidential election abroad
In recent months, we have received a large number of questions regarding the administration of the upcoming Russian presidential election abroad.
Our ministry is sending out invitations to foreign representatives to monitor the Russian presidential election in March 2024. Representatives of the CIS and SCO are invited on behalf of the ministry.
At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry is assisting in selecting candidates and sending invitations to monitors chosen by the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (State Duma and Federation Council). The Russian Central Election Commission is entitled to invite monitors on its own from most world countries, including some unfriendly states.
The list of countries that have expressed interest in sending monitors is growing rapidly. New states appear almost every day. The list includes organisations whose invitation to monitor our elections might seem strange, such as the Russophobic Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. It is common knowledge that Russia withdrew from the Council of Europe in March 2022 due to its discriminatory policies, which infringed on the rights of our country.
I would like to note that polling stations will be open in all countries that have this country’s diplomatic missions and consular offices, including unfriendly ones. Given that polling stations in a number of countries will also be opened outside the capitals in areas of compact settlement of our fellow citizens, including at major sites of Russian economic operators, the expected number of polling stations will be around three hundred.
Unfortunately, the closing of almost 30 of our foreign offices by unfriendly states and a significant reduction in the staff of the remaining embassies as a result of diplomats being expelled under thin pretexts have considerably reduced the possibilities of setting up additional polling stations. First of all, I am referring to the Baltic States, Moldova, Germany, the United States, the Czech Republic, and Finland. Compared to the previous elections in these countries, there will be fewer polling stations.
We note threats to voters in unfriendly countries. If, even on ordinary days, regular provocations and sometimes illegal demonstrations organised outside our diplomatic and consular institutions by so-called “activists” and sympathisers (as they call themselves) continue unabated, we can imagine what is in store for the Russian citizens who will come to vote at our embassies on the election day, when the degree of anti-Russia rhetoric will clearly be higher than usual.
We are taking appropriate measures to ensure the security of polling stations and to protect the life and health of voters and members of election commissions. We are warning anyone who wants to try to disrupt this work in the form of extremism or any other illegal action of administrative and criminal liability for any attempt to disrupt the normal course of the election.
This is the basic information. It will be amended. We plan to inform you regularly about the opening of polling stations (I mean in remote locations) and hours of operation, and to post contact information.
All our foreign offices will be involved in this effort. You will be able to follow the information through their websites and the official social media accounts of the Russian Foreign Ministry and our foreign missions. We are starting this now. There will be a separate section at our briefings. We will inform you as fully and promptly as possible.
The Kiev regime continues to carry out violent terrorist attacks incited by the collective West, which relentlessly floods the Armed Forces of Ukraine with weapons and ammunition, sends in foreign mercenaries, and trains Ukrainian military personnel.
On January 21, Ukrainian neo-Nazis launched a targeted missile and artillery strike against a farmer’s market and retail outlets in the Tekstilshchik residential area, Kirovsky District, Donetsk. This was the most violent attack in recent years, killing 27 civilians, including two teenagers, and injuring another 25 residents.
The premeditated terrorist attack by Ukrainian surface-to-air missiles launched from the Kharkov Region targeting Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft on January 24 was another heinous crime committed by the Zelensky regime. Everyone onboard, including six crew members, three Russian escort officers, and 65 Ukrainian servicemen on their way to a pre-agreed prisoner swap, died on the spot.
Kiev was aware of this flight and its humanitarian mission, yet they issued an order to destroy it. The response from Bankovaya Street was just as cynical. Their initial reaction was joyous public announcement about the “successful” operation followed by outright denial and shifting the blame onto Russia.
The Kiev regime is using such heinous acts of violence in the hope of rekindling the waning interest around the world in the Ukraine crisis and encouraging its sponsors to keep unchanged and even expand financial aid and weapons supplies. Who controls what on Bankovaya Street is a big question that should be better put to those who created the Kiev regime and is supplying it with weapons, rather than the Kiev regime itself.
I have a question for Washington, London, and the collective Brussels, as well as Paris and Berlin, in particular, who talk over one another as they continue to discuss ways to support the “fledgling Ukrainian democracy.” Do you have any idea who you are sending heavy weapons to, including projectiles with depleted uranium? Do you realise who you are giving billions to? Are you aware of the fact that you have little control over them, and have no control whatsoever over what is happening on the inside?
We strongly condemn the barbaric crimes committed by the Zelensky regime and its enablers. Without the financial, material and political support that the Kiev regime receives from abroad, such terrorist attacks would not be possible.
Once again, we call on the responsible governments and international organisations not to stand by, but to condemn these heinous acts of terrorism. Let me be frank and realistic about this situation. This is a window of opportunity for those who consider themselves civilised or try to become civilised. It is closing. It may sound cynical, but it is the truth.
As you may be aware, many were initially supportive of the Third Reich during WWII. Not everyone immediately joined the ranks of anti-fascists. Even when they did, everyone had their rationale: some developed a conscience; others suddenly realised what was really happening; still others saw that the Soviet Union was winning the war. Those who switched to the side of “light and goodness” before the end of WWII got the status of respected states and communities for decades. Those who did not were brought to tribunals and were literally put in the pillory for decades.
The window of opportunity is still open. Individuals, public figures, and organisations around the world are starting to ask themselves, “Who and what is keeping us on the side of evil and darkness?” The answer is clear. Many are harassed and blackmailed into staying on the dark side of history. The understanding of what is happening is rolling across the world.
We address specifically the Kiev puppeteers who consider themselves civilised. Cowardly silence after a terrorist attack that is obvious to everyone is nothing short of admitting the blame. After all, they (Washington, London, and the collective Brussels) should know that all of that is tantamount to being accessories in committing acts of terrorism and extremism.
Based on the evidence collected by our country's Investigative Committee, the courts of the Russian Federation continue to sentence Ukrainian fighters who have committed grave crimes against civilians.
The Azov Nazi battalion member Alexey Mozgovoy, who shot and killed four civilians in Mariupol in April 2022, has been sentenced to life in prison.
Another Ukrainian neo-Nazi, Ivan Paskalov, received 28 years to be served in prison colony for shooting and killing two civilians in Mariupol in March 2022.
Banderite thug Alexander Kuzmenko, who issued an order to execute two civilians in Mariupol in spring 2022, was sentenced to 25 years.
Former members of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, namely, ex-Finance Minister Alexander Shlapak and former head of the National Bank Stepan Kubiva, have been indicted in absentia. Alongside other high-ranking officials, they were behind the decision to start the “anti-terrorist operation” in Donbass and funded it from the public budget.
All Ukrainian criminals will be identified and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Now, let’s discuss what truly enables the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist attacks. The West continues to supply weapons to the Zelensky regime, which makes it Kiev’s accomplice in atrocious crimes.
The French media report that Paris announced the creation of an “Artillery for Ukraine” coalition in order to reinforce support for Kiev in the short and long term. France plans to step up the production of Caesar self-propelled howitzers and to deliver 72 of them to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2024. Caught up in militaristic rhetoric, President Emmanuel Macron proclaimed that Russia's victory was “unacceptable” and pledged to send about 40 SCALP long-range missiles, “hundreds of aerial bombs,” and other weapons to Ukraine.
I would like to remind Emmanuel Macron and his speechwriters that not long ago you were quite vociferous about the importance of inflicting a “strategic defeat” on Russia. It did not come to pass. Now, you scramble to rewrite every paper you’ve written before and come up with new slogans which now declare that “Russia's victory would be unacceptable.” Don't waste paper. You will have to come up with something new down the line. You won't be able to stop us on our path to victory.
In all appearance, Paris is stubbornly refusing to acknowledge that expanding military aid to the Zelensky regime will not only prolong the Ukraine crisis, but will also claim more lives of French citizens who are helping the thugs from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other units formed by the regime. A missile strike by the Russian Aerospace Forces against a foreign mercenaries' base in Kharkov on January 16 killing about 60 French “legionnaires” and injuring another 20 is striking proof of that. Clumsy attempts by the French authorities to hide this from the public have failed. Everything that is hidden will be revealed.
The issue is not just about the French citizens, but also about the fact that they would not be able to do so on their own without the recruitment agencies and the proactive support of the official Paris to assist the Kiev regime in hiring French citizens within the borders of France.
Germany keeps digging into the pockets of its farmers and other citizens and plans to allocate 7 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine in 2024, effectively doubling it. On the other hand, the United States is scaling back its aid and is therefore pushing its satellites and NATO underlings to spend more.
Reportedly, Berlin is adamant about other EU countries following its example. It doesn't want to sink alone. Germany, as the main sponsor of the Zelensky regime within the EU, will have to pay up. They are looking for other sponsors to fund this reckless venture, especially amid uncertainty regarding military support coming from the United States and the clear enough (for those who assess things realistically) outcome of this bloody drama.
Against this backdrop, the 18th Ramstein-format meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group on January 23 went practically unnoticed. For the first time, no promises were uttered regarding future weapon supplies for the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Clearly fearing that Western curators will leave it without money and weapons, the Kiev gang continues to cozy up to them to the point of becoming ludicrous. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, a person going by the name Kuleba went as far as to say that Ukraine came up with the best offer on the global security market for the United States. (This is his way of responding to those in Washington who said that investing in the Ukraine conflict was the best investment the United States had made in years). In other words, it's just business. Kiev is ready to “finish the job,” i.e., the hostilities, at the expense of the Americans, who only need to do one thing: to provide steady financial and military help. According to this official, Washington would not even have to expend its soldiers. Why bother? There are (not so many, though, but there still are) Ukrainians who, as the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov correctly noted, are just cannon fodder for the Kiev regime. Talk about “caring” for the lives of ordinary Ukrainians.
Such rhetoric reminds me of a dialogue between a client and a contractor. The leaders of the Kiev junta and its sponsors see the conflict as a lucrative deal, and the lives of Ukrainian soldiers as a commodity. There is no other added value or any value at all. There is only cost. The number of people Zelensky is prepared to kill depends on how much money he’ll be paid.
Ukraine marked Unity Day on January 22. On this day, Vladimir Zelensky signed an executive order On the Russian Territories Historically Inhabited by Ukrainians. Some view it as controversial or provocative, but I believe it is simply delusional.
In what appears to be a lapse into historical dementia, the Kiev regime openly asserted its claims to a significant portion of the Krasnodar Territory and the Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov regions of Russia. All of that looks preposterous and is crudely camouflaged as “concern” for the Ukrainians living there, who allegedly have been suffering “for centuries” from the “systematic actions” of our country to “destroy their national identity,” to “oppress” them, and to “violate their rights and freedoms.” The phrase “what have they been smoking” makes more sense when you read what Zelensky signed off on. I have a question: does anyone among us have any doubts about what Zelensky would do if he had the chance to “reach” the Ukrainians, Ukrainian citizens, or ethnic Ukrainians living in those above regions? Do you think he would set aside funds for them to perform songs in the Ukrainian language or dance to Ukrainian music, or buy musical instruments to perform traditional Ukrainian songs, or buy costumes for folk dances? If it were up to him, he would mobilise all of them without a second thought. He would corral the people in the land under his control like cattle headed for slaughter.
As a reminder, prior to 2024, the people on Bankovaya Street did not recognise Russian Ukrainians as their fellow countrymen but now they have cynically stated that Russia must adhere to international commitments to safeguard their civil, social, cultural, and religious rights.
Who is this rhetoric intended for? Is it for those who have no access to books, libraries, or the internet? Once again, I would like to remind you that prior to 2024, we never heard any claims to that effect, except for utterly outlandish ones such as people in Russia being prohibited from speaking foreign languages, including Ukrainian, and so on. Everyone is at a loss trying to make sense of what they are saying.
The people on Bankovaya Street demand that these people be granted the right to receive instruction in the Ukrainian language, to hold peaceful assemblies, and to have access to the media in Ukrainian.
All of that could be ignored if it were not for what the Kiev regime has been doing, for many years, with regard to the people they refer to as “minorities.” Fine, minorities, but the massive multimillion population of their own compatriots. The Kiev regime has elevated Russophobia to the level of state policy and has been conducting systematic derussification for years. It has effectively banned the Russian language and culture and codified this state of affairs in law.
The Kiev regime persecutes its citizens based on ethnicity. That is not just outrageous and deserving of international condemnation, but also warrants legislative measures against those who developed and implemented all of this. After years of imposing quotas on the use of the Russian language on radio and television in Ukraine, they still have something to say about protecting languages worldwide?
Russia has repeatedly brought to the attention of the international community Ukraine’s gross and systematic violations of its international commitments to upholding human rights. Did anyone listen to what we had to say? Yes, there were some who did. But those in international organisations who were supposed to listen either failed to respond or responded sluggishly.
This kind of policy conducted by the Zelensky regime is not a problem for the West. Why? Because he is being paid to do precisely what he is doing. Russophobia did not accomplish its intended purpose during WWII. This task was postponed for “later.” It failed during the Cold War as well and was postponed again. Now, they have realised that people who have lived in one country for a long time and were connected not only by state bonds, but also by family, cultural, and historical ties, will never turn against each other. Then, they began deploying, airdropping and, in fact, implanting “politicians” into Ukraine for them to run it, to pass laws and regulations in order to annihilate everything that connected us, was common to us, and represented value even from a civilisational point of view. To achieve this, they are not just paying Zelensky. They paid Viktor Yushchenko and Petr Poroshenko, everyone who was part of the government that was repeatedly brought to power, contrary to Ukrainian laws and the constitution, via coup d’etats.
Sooner or later, the Western patronage of the neo-Nazi junta in Kiev will bring grave problems for its Anglo-Saxon and other patrons. This will happen. I cannot give you the exact day or hour. I cannot say exactly how it will unfold, but it will.
The above facts confirm the importance of the goals of the special military operation to denazify and demilitarise Ukraine and to eliminate the threats emanating from its territory. As the Russian leadership has repeatedly stated, these goals will be achieved.
Russia-based Ukrainian scam call centres are targeting the EU
According to related Russian agencies, the activity of several scam call centres has been curtailed. The centres were organised by Ukrainian nationals and operated under the Ukrainian security services. These criminal organisations were engaged in illegal activities such as hustling money from individuals within the European Union, after which the stolen money was directed to fund the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Over 1,000 victims of scam calls have been identified, including people in Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic, and other EU countries.
The scammers deliberately worked with a foreign audience, using the current developments in international cooperation between law enforcement agencies. As part of the established procedures, Russian agencies forwarded the critical information on 119 victims to a European country twice: in June and November 2023. However, both requests have gone unanswered. Being guided solely by political motives, the authorities in the EU countries feign ignorance regarding any communication from the Russian side on this issue. As a result, Russian security agencies have not received any claims from the victims, this hindering the initiation of criminal procedures and the pursuit of justice against the criminals. This raises the question of whether citizens of the European Union are aware that their governments, whom they voted for and financially support through taxes, take no action to safeguard their rights but instead shield criminals who rob EU nationals.
If the EU governments fail to take action, all criminal charges might be dropped.
So, it seems that while unilaterally suspending all normal interaction in combatting transnational organised crime and banning our country from classified channels of information exchange between the competent agencies, EU leadership has neglected the interests of their own citizens to please the criminal Kiev regime. They not only show a willingness to invest billions to fill Ukraine with weapons, but also choose to overlook the fact that their ordinary citizens are being robbed, all in the name of supporting the Kiev regime.
European producers resent the open door policy for Ukrainian agricultural exports
People are beginning to realise the true intention behind the enormous PR campaign designed to fool the European and global public and generate profits for leading Western agricultural companies. After all, there should be some understanding of what has happened. But no. While we were at the UN, Western journalists asked questions that indicated the issue was still relevant. Even the Russian delegation was asked about the food deal from time to time. Therefore, I suggest we take a look at the overall food situation.
And the situation is completely different, despite widespread censorship and an unprecedented anti-Russia hate campaign in the Western mercenary media, which only talks about alleged threats to food security from our country.
The EU leadership’s policy of solidarity with the Kiev regime at any cost is triggering a sense of panic within the European Union. For the first time since Brussels launched its plan to export Ukrainian agricultural produce through the so-called solidarity corridors, a plan supposedly developed to “feed the world,” it has caused shockwaves not only in the five countries bordering Ukraine (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia), whose farmers have been hit by an influx of cheap Ukrainian food to their markets, but also among the professional agricultural associations that include all EU countries.
Angered by the dumping of Ukrainian agricultural products, European farmers are blocking roads and central streets in big cities, effectively paralysing both government agencies in their countries and EU organisations. But how does the Western media, which has spent over a year declaring the need to save the world from imminent hunger and blaming Russia for all problems, react to this? Those in the West who actually produce food (rather than engage in its resale or speculation), have taken to the streets, boarded their tractors and lorries, and headed for the capitals of their countries to tell the truth. But the Western media are looking the other way and focusing on Russophobic propaganda. EU farmers’ protests are covered in passing and the true scale of the problem is being deliberately hushed up. The same, incidentally, can be said of the recent Davos forum, where participants discussed everything except the massive farmers’ protests in the EU.
Allow me to make the following suggestion. Please open a map of Western Europe, find Davos, and take note of the surrounding countries and cities. You will see that all of these have been the scene of large-scale farmers’ protests in recent weeks and even months. But the people in Davos don’t see them. There is no relevant information. In all evidence, Russian hackers have cut some internet wires or severed the TV cable. The topic is absent from the corridors or at panel discussions in Davos.
More than this, the Kiev regime and its Western sponsors are referring to continued hostilities, not food, as an investment and a good deal. See what has happened to Western “refinement?”
The socioeconomic policies pursued by European countries and Brussels have brought the agricultural policy to such a dead end that even such patient people as farmers have been driven to despair. They can no longer bear it and are takin got the streets in protest, hoping that at least the form of the protests will make the authorities listen.
I’ll remind you that agriculture is the cornerstone of food security, which the West talks so much about in the context of Ukrainian grain. I understand that 3D food is already on the way.
There are videos touting 3D printed pork chops, fish, and more. So far, though, we have been fortunate enough to have real grain, meat and fish on our tables. Perhaps, we should take a look at what the Western 3D architects of food security have done to the real sector of the economy and the agriculture industry?
The agriculture industry is not just an element of the European economy. It accounts for up to half of all EU payments. For decades, EU member states have been competing for access to common EU funds while the French, German, Polish and Greek farmers have been feeding half a billion EU consumers year after year. Now, the authorities and Brussels officials do not want to listen to the people who bring food to their tables.
Amid the almost total ban on alternative opinions in the EU media and political space, this response from European farmers sounds like a cry of despair. Clearly, the situation is quite bad if ordinary Europeans are forced to not just complain, but to issue a public ultimatum to the EU leadership. In fact, the farmers told them directly that if unlimited trade in agricultural products with Ukraine continues as it is, Brussels should not expect their unconditional support for Kiev. The requests from EU farmers appear quite simple and straightforward. They want to see limits imposed on Ukrainian agricultural exports and assurances that they meet their quality and phytosanitary standards.
Just imagine that unlike anything imported from Ukraine, each tomato, tangerine, or orange in the EU must comply with certain standards. Why? The West is working on a project called “Ukraine.” For them, Ukraine is not a just a country, a nation, a society, a part of history, or a civilization. It is just a project that must exist in the form designed by the West, regardless of the cost. Down with the human rights standards, the West says with regard to Ukraine. From Washington's point of view, one can turn a blind eye to everything, even the killing of a journalist by the Kiev regime. Down with the agriculture industry standards, which it took so much effort and time to develop. Down with all moral standards, too. Everyone seems to have forgotten about them. Down with trade and business rules and standards. The Ukraine project is above all of that.
In the position paper for the EU Council on Agriculture meeting on January 23, 2024, Warsaw made it abundantly clear that the safety and protection of EU consumers’ lives and health are more important than anything else, including support for Ukraine.
Quite expectedly, France, which is the EU’s largest agricultural producer, saw the strongest farmers' protests. Notably, according to the latest opinion polls (Western, not Russian), almost 90 percent of the French people support local farmers, which clearly shows the effectiveness of French socioeconomic policy. Things are so heated (CNN, the BBC and Bloomberg keep quiet about it) that a number of analysts are saying that if a compromise is not achieved soon, the country may be in for a rerun of the nationwide yellow vest-like protests.
To reiterate, people are not just fighting for their profits. They are trying to say that they will collapse given the EU’s agricultural and economic system where every legal regulation is violated in order to provide 100-percent protection of the Kiev regime's actions on all fronts, primarily its agricultural supplies to the EU. I wonder if the French authorities will respond as harshly as they did last time to the protests of their own citizens who are driven to despair by the disastrous economic policies of their own government. We'll see. There is still hope that they will come to their senses.
Speaking about the European Commission, the main driver behind liberalising agricultural trade with Ukraine, it has not been able to ensure the normal operation of “solidarity corridors” for a year and a half now, although it claimed that this initiative was saving millions of people in need from starvation all over the world. In reality, cheap Ukrainian food of doubtful quality ended up in EU storage facilities. The European Commission was equally unable to protect the interests of the five EU member states bordering Ukraine, which were hit the hardest by being overstocked with Ukrainian products and had to block access to agricultural exports from Ukraine in violation of every EU regulation.
However, Brussels, which is accustomed to making political decisions based primarily on the political guidelines for containing Russia dictated from overseas, rather than on the actual interests of its member states, will not have it any easier. The election to the European Parliament is scheduled for June, and the opinion of the farmers, a politically active group of voters, will have to be taken into account. I’m not sure how they plan to succeed by silencing people with handouts or intimidation. We can see how farmers’ protests are spreading to not only Ukraine’s immediate neighbours, but Germany and France as well.
To all those who will again try to find “the hidden hand of Moscow,” “the Kremlin’s influence,” or “Russian hackers,” I will say none of that exists. What does exist, though, is the pain of the people who realise what’s in store for the European Union which is bound hand and foot by all sorts of commitments and “Western corporate ethics,” which, in fact, are the tribute that NATO has imposed on them.
The strikes are caused by the shortsighted (I'd say special) policy pursued by the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen, which has led to an increase in production costs within the EU and created the perfect environment for unfair competition on the intra-EU agricultural market caused by oversupply of Ukrainian products.
The hypothetical EU membership that was promised to Kiev is looming on the horizon. A painful and shock-and-headache-inducing discussion on how to “digest” the Ukrainian agricultural industry and not wreck their own farmers in the process is on the agenda of many EU capitals.
It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad. What will become of the global food security given these manipulations, falsifications and insinuations by the West? It’s a big question. All of that is part of the same policy of manipulating public opinion, with some lining their pockets and destroying the livelihood and work of others just to accommodate fleeting political interests.
Republic of
We have noted an increasingly heated rhetoric from official
In particular, in an interview with the South Korean newspaper The Korea Herald on January 24, Korean Minister of Defence Shin Won-sik, accused
This is just one example. Similar insinuations about illegal military and technical cooperation between
In this regard, we firmly reject any illegitimate attempts by the
We would like to warn
We want to emphasise that the accusations against us are unfounded and without proof; therefore, they are illegitimate. This fake information is skilfully used by the
Our country has been and will continue to responsibly fulfil its international obligations within the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. If someone suspects a violation of these documents, they can file a claim with the UN Security Council, as it is the only agency that is authorised to review such matters.
At the same time, we believe that all states must fully adhere to international law, not only
Upcoming NATO military exercise, Steadfast Defender 2024, poised to be the largest in decades
Against the backdrop of constant calls for
This step is deliberately aimed at escalating tensions; it raises the risk of military incidents and could lead to tragic consequences for
The North Atlantic Alliance does not make it a secret that they will train for tasks related to “deterring the Russian threat.” Chair of the NATO Military Committee Robert Bauer said that the alliance is preparing for a conflict with
We have repeatedly said and will once again confirm that there are no plans to attack NATO countries. Moreover, the alliance is well aware of that. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has recently confirmed this. According to him, there is “no direct or imminent threat from
The 25th anniversary of the 1999 events in Racak
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the
I would like to remind everyone about the timeline. On January 15, 1999, Serbian law enforcement officers were subjected to an armed attack while trying to detain a group of terrorists from the Kosovo Liberation Army, entrenched in Racak. Acting strictly in accordance with the law, they returned the fire and killed over 40 militants. However, American citizen William Walker, Head of the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission, helped invent a different story. Western propaganda turned Albanian terrorists into peaceful civilians and branded Serbian law enforcement officers as ruthless killers who allegedly made short work of completely innocent peaceful civilians. A documentary, released by
That year, the NATO air strikes killed several thousand people in
Today, the US-led collective West continues to use the dirtiest information warfare methods against countries opposing Western neo-colonialism. Fake news concerning the Russian Army’s alleged crimes in Bucha are similar to those leaked in connection with events in Racak. There is nothing new here, the pattern and the strategy remains the same. The story about war crimes in Bucha is a complete fabrication, and
Anti-Serbian repression in Kosovo
The predicament faced by the Serbs in Kosovo is reaching a critical point. Their existence on their own land is being put into question. But instead of sounding the alarm, the West prefers to turn its back on the problem. Against the backdrop of the demonstrative silence of the
I want to ask
According to
The so-called Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has been cranking out illegal arrests of Serbs as revenge for their participation in peaceful protests, and their position. He has inspired criminal cases on “war crimes” allegedly conducted by the Serbs during the years of the Kosovo conflict. Under the false pretext of searching for weapons and contraband, Pristina’s special forces are conducting raids in Serb-populated areas. For over seven months, an embargo has been in force on importing goods with the “made in
In their desire to demoralise the local Serbian community, the Kosovars are curbing any attempt to establish its legal status. Albin Kurti’s main objective is to nullify his obligation to establish the Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo. I have a question for
Albin Kurti plans to prohibit financial transactions in the Serbian dinar, including bank transfers from
Does this remind you of anything? This is how the West and the
Albin Kurti’s plans include arming both the “police” and the “special forces” with long-barreled automatic firearms, and introducing mandatory military service by 2028 as part of reforming the Kosovo Security Force into an army in violation of Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council. What does the West say about the need to comply with international law? Have we heard a word from the
The course towards the Albanisation of the Serbian spiritual heritage in Kosovo has also intensified. Cultural landmarks are being usurped, ancient Orthodox Christian churches are announced as Catholic; the spiritual history of Kosovo and Metohija is being rewritten in the attempt to present the Albanians as a Christian people and the Serbs as invaders who allegedly took over churches and monasteries that belonged to others. Doesn’t this remind you of anything? This is how the
The Americans and Europeans encourage the ethnic cleansing being conducted by the “prime minister” by granting Pristina visa-free travel to the Schengen area and promoting its request to join the Council of Europe. This is the same strategy they have employed in Ukraine and many other countries, initially offering incentives to promote their American Western politics and later providing charitable aid to exert influence over the country and its people.
Hoping to lead the settlement out of the impasse created by Albin Kurti and the West,
Only strict adherence to the agreements signed by both parties, first of all, regarding the Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo, in strict adherence to foundational Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council, can provide for a sustainable and just settlement.
On January 27, 1945 – 79 years ago – Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau (Oswiecim), where millions of innocent people died. In 2005, a resolution of the UN General Assembly, co-sponsored by Russia, declared this day the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is defined as a tragedy that claimed the lives of a great number of Jews and countless other minorities.
January 27 is a day of mourning for more than 6 million victims of the targeted extermination of the Jewish people by the Nazis. On this day, commemorative events are held all over the world under the auspices of Jewish organisations, marking the never fading importance of the fight against xenophobia, racism and other forms of intolerance.
On this day, we remember the soldiers of the Red Army who liberated this camp, and the atrocities of the Third Reich, which resolved to annihilate the peoples of different ethnicities that did not meet, as they believed, their standards, be it Jews, Russians, or Slavs, or other peoples, ethnicities and minorities. It was not just their ethnicity that the Third Reich had an issue with but their worldview and civilisational development. We remember all the victims and the heroic actions of the Red Army soldiers who liberated this concentration camp and brought peace to the world for decades to come.
Events that commemorate the Holocaust Memorial Day contribute to raising awareness of the historical truth of the tragedies of the Great Patriotic War, recall the liberation of Oswiecim by the Red Army, and the heroism of all the peoples of the former Soviet Union and their contribution to the salvation of the Jews of Europe. Officials of the Foreign Ministry traditionally take part in these events.
Today, on January 26, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia is holding an official ceremony for Holocaust Remembrance Day at the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Centre.
The Russian Jewish Congress organised a series of events for the week starting from January 18 culminating in the Memory Keeper memorial event at Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre on January 25.The Week saw a musical and drama performance, the presentation of the Live Voices project at the Gulag History Museum, and a Let Us Remember memorial at the House of Peoples of Russia.
January 27, 2024, also marks the 80th anniversary of the complete liberation of Leningrad by Soviet troops from the Nazi blockade.
This date and those 872 days of terrible and inhuman trials that the people of Leningrad went through will forever remain in the memory of our country and all humanity. Our duty today as descendants is to preserve the historical memory of the siege of Leningrad and the suffering of the hundreds of thousands of victims who are buried in the Piskarevsky, Smolensky and other cemeteries and mass graves all over the city.
On this day, commemorative ceremonies will take place in St Petersburg that will include laying wreaths and flowers at the Piskarevsky Memorial Cemetery and other memorial complexes and burial sites of defenders and residents of besieged Leningrad, as well as lighting torches on rostral columns of the city and holding concerts. The celebrations will culminate with firework displays.
Events to perpetuate the memory of the heroism of the inhabitants of besieged Leningrad also include the opening of a memorial complex dedicated to the memory of civilians of the Soviet Union who died during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, a branch of the State Memorial Museum of the Defence and Blockade of Leningrad, a St Petersburg State Budgetary Cultural Institution, and the Defenders of Leningrad memorial complex.
55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between
February 1, 2024 marks an important date in relations between the
We remember that the first ambassador to
We would like to especially note the non-opportunistic nature of our bilateral relations, which are invariably friendly. We are ready to further promote the political dialogue and multifaceted interaction with
We would also like to wish our Peruvian colleagues success in their important role as this year’s chair in APEC, the leading association in the Asia-Pacific region, where representatives of
The day Soviet troops defeated the Nazis in the
February 2,
During this heroic defence, which lasted from July 17 to November 18, 1942, the city’s defenders managed to protect the bridgehead and approaches to the
The Soviet army’s victory was vivid proof of the courage, fortitude, and readiness for self-sacrifice of all the peoples of the
The Nazis’ defeat near Stalingrad marked the beginning of a radical change in the course of the Great Patriotic War, and had a profound impact on the foreign policy and diplomacy of the
This battle caused confusion among the Axis countries. A crisis began in the pro-fascist regimes in
The Red Army’s victory on the Volga thwarted Hitler’s plans to seize the Caucasus and conquer the Middle East, helped break through the Siege of Leningrad on January 18, 1943, became the key to success in the Battle of Kursk in the summer of 1943, and moved the allies’ decision to open a second front in the summer of 1944 closer.
The Motherland highly appreciated those who fought in the Battle of Stalingrad. Tens of thousands of soldiers and officers were decorated with government awards, and 112 of the most distinguished soldiers became Heroes of the
On May 1, 1945, the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief made
In accordance with Federal Law No. 32-F3 of March 13, 1995, February 2 is marked as the Day of Military Glory of Russia, in memory of the Red Army’s victory over the Nazi troops in the Battle of Stalingrad.
Question: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance will invest $1.2 billion to produce artillery shells for Ukraine. Will you comment on this, please?
Maria Zakharova: The leaders of NATO countries are scaring their populations with an allegedly imminent war with Russia and, instead of revitalising their nations' economies, they are putting them on military footing to provide Vladimir Zelensky with long-term military support.
I think it's time for NATO to make up its mind whether it wants to go to war with Russia. If so, let them state it clearly in communication with their member states, their people, and the whole world community. They need not come up with stories about an alleged threat, which compels them to reformat. I have mentioned this today already. We understand why they do this. The reason is the Kiev regime is collapsing. They haven't come up with a new strategy yet. Their own economies are in decline. Their departure from liberal foundations is obvious. Entire economic areas are already under administrative command. So, there is a need to justify this somehow. But this justification can't be done overtly. That's why they have been inventing stories. Still, the main question for NATO remains: are they willing to do what they are scaring their people with? Or is it propaganda to implement their political and information manoeuvres?
Kiev did not meet the expectations of the United States and its allies: it has failed in its counteroffensive and emptied the military arsenals of many Western countries. To replenish them, NATO members need to significantly ramp up military production. The plans that Washington handed down to its satellite states indicate that the Kiev regime was supposed to rise like a shining star in the sky of the world. Everything was supposed to be according to Western standards. They should have already reaped the economic benefits of inflicting upon us what they call a strategic defeat. But everything went in exactly the opposite direction. The Kiev regime has failed in everything. The West has inflicted a strategic defeat on itself. In this case, I'm talking about Western Europe. There, the economies of its leading countries are in recession. What is there for them to do next?
Recently, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reported that NATO had concluded defence contracts worth $10 billion, of which $ 1.2 billion will be spent on procuring 155mm shells to replenish NATO stocks. Deliveries can begin no sooner than in 24 months. For the time being, NATO members have been ordered by Washington to keep digging up something out of their stocks (which are more like leaky pockets) to ensure an uninterrupted supply of weapons to Ukraine's armed forces. When Westerners got themselves involved in this scheme, they weren't told how long it would take. They were promised a blitzkrieg, that all would be over in no time. They didn't expect it to continue for more than a couple of few months. But something went wrong. Everyone knows perfectly well what their Ukrainian wards will do with all that. They will use the weapons they get to target civilians and non-military facilities. The blame for these acts of terror will lie squarely with those who are continuing to cover up the crimes of the Kiev regime and to recklessly supply it with new shipments of weapons.
Here's an important point I want to make. Why do you think NATO countries are scaring their own people with these aggressive statements about an alleged threat from Russia, claiming that unless the Kiev regime holds out for some time, our country will use all its "aggressive potential" to target the West? Why are they doing this? Because they need a strategy for the future, and they don't have one. They need to patch up these economic holes, and there's no way to do it. But more importantly, the real goal of Washington is to unleash conflicts in as many regions as possible and at any cost. Why? Because the US is in a dire economic situation. There is no need to comment on the US domestic policy situation, everyone can see what it has become. People are extremely bitter towards one another there. It has been Washington's cherished dream generally to see European countries with a long history of cooperation fight each other. This is the end goal of their policy. American politicians have historically pitted European countries against each other, and, sadly, continue to do so.
Question: On the night of January 15, 2024, an information sign installed on the street named after Marshal of the Soviet Union Rodion Malinovsky was torn down in the Moldovan city of Balti. How would you comment on this recent act of vandalism in Moldova?
Maria Zakharova: Fortunately, on January 18, 2024, the information sign was returned to its rightful place, and another one was installed on the street named after Rodion Malinovsky, thanks to concerned young activists. It is a blessing when you can answer a question that includes countermeasures taken in response to such “dehumanisation.” This act, I mean the return of not just the sign, but the return of historical memory, is worthy of respect.
The name of the hero of the Great Patriotic War, Rodion Malinovsky, is indissolubly tied to the Moldovan land. He entered the war in June 1941 as commander of the 48th Rifle Corps of the Odessa Military District, stationed in the Moldavian city of Balti. A few months later, he was already commanding the troops of the entire Southern Front. The Marshal took part in the Battle of Stalingrad and carried out several major offensives, including the famous Iasi-Chisinau Offensive, which resulted in the liberation of Moldovan territory from the German-Romanian fascist occupation in August 1944.
The restoration of the memorial sign devoted to the merits of Marshal Malinovsky once again shows that Moldovans remember our common history and honour the heroes who saved their country from destruction, and its citizens from Nazi slavery.
These barbaric actions were possible partly because the government of Chisinau is now pursuing not just a Russophobic policy, but a policy of deleting the memory of their own population. What is the goal? The goal is the same as during the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War – to promote obedience and make people pliable, to rid (they think) people of the image of a person who creates, thinks and has free will, turning them into obedient instruments. This is why history is erased. I hope it will simply not be cut down, erased or cancelled from the people of Moldova, because this is their historical, cultural and civilisational code. This is what constitutes their true national pride. They fought not only for their land and not only for their culture and history, but against a global evil.
Question: The Parliament of Türkiye voted to ratify Sweden’s membership in NATO. How does Moscow assess Ankara’s step, as well as Sweden’s upcoming entry into NATO?
Maria Zakharova: Russia respects Türkiye’s sovereign right to make decisions in both domestic and foreign policy. Obviously, this step was preceded by prolonged pressure from the United States and its allies on Ankara.
Unlike the collective West, we do not try to impose our will on other states with blackmail. Moscow builds relations with its foreign partners based on true equality, mutual respect and consideration for each other’s interests.
Sweden’s membership in NATO will affect stability in Northern Europe and the Baltic region. Abandoning its long-term policy of military non-alignment and joining a bloc that is openly hostile to Russia is unlikely to increase the sense of security among ordinary Swedes. We will not allow our security to be weakened. Russian leadership has repeatedly stated this. We will take retaliatory measures of a political and military-technical nature in order to respond to any threat to the defence capability of our country. We will determine the specific approach depending on what measures are taken as part of Sweden’s integration into NATO, including the possible deployment of NATO strike weapons systems and forces on the territory of this country.
Question: In 2024, the Doomsday Clock showing the degree of tension in global affairs remains at 90 seconds to a nuclear midnight. Will global tensions continue to increase this year?
Maria Zakharova: You have every reason to use metaphorical and symbolic image. However, we use specific statistics, facts, and forecasts. Instead of replying to your question metaphorically, I would say that, unfortunately, we have seen nothing that indicates the opposite over the past months and even years. We have seen nothing that helps the world become more stable and safer, to allow the world to become more predictable, in the good sense of the word. It should not be dull but stable, so that trust and security can characterise international relations again, and so that the trend to build relations of respect, friendship and peace between countries and nations can reassert itself.
We see nothing like this now. Unfortunately, we are only seeing the destruction of the existing system. They target international law, for the most part. No real alternative is being considered, let alone proposed. The concept of a rules-based order was planted. As you know, there are no rules. More accurately, it is the might-makes-right rule alone. This trend immediately discredited itself. The global majority began to understand the motives for imposing this rules-based order. This is a return to the times of colonialism and imperialism when one could rule over all others.
I would like to note once again that we are doing our best in our struggle for an equitable world based on international law. We combat neo-colonialism, all forms of xenophobia, segregation and intolerance that can be seen in the groundless and illegal domination of one nation, one single people or one country over others. We are doing our best in all spheres and on all fronts.
Question: Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan hinted at the possibility of providing Azerbaijan with new minefield maps, in addition to those that have already been forwarded, but only via its international partners. Is Moscow prepared to remain such a partner? Is Yerevan sending the relevant signals?
Maria Zakharova: Russia remains Yerevan’s partner; we made a decisive contribution to ending the hostilities in the autumn of 2020 and preventing an even more crushing defeat to Armenia.
At the same time, we have always focused on humanitarian issues in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace settlement. Russia has promoted prisoner and detainee exchanges from the war, a search for missing persons and the forwarding of minefield maps. We are ready to continue these efforts to achieve peace and stability in the South Caucasus.
Question: How do you assess other countries’ reaction to the crash of the Ilyushin Il-76 plane, downed by Ukrainian fire in the Belgorod Region? How did foreign partners behave at the OSCE Forum for Security Co-Operation in Vienna when Russian diplomats raised this topic?
Maria Zakharova: The reaction varied. I would differentiate it into the official reaction and people’s reaction. We are talking about the fact that the mainstream media are simply hushing up the public reaction and not informing people about key elements of international relations and events in general.
With regard to the collective West, the reaction was crazy. Only crazy people can welcome, approve, excuse or say they understand terrorist attacks. Only those who have no reason or who have lost their conscience and even morals can state their support for those carrying out terrorist or extremist attacks, and be glad when these succeed.
We can see that many have ignored this information pretending they did not see, did not hear, do not understand or need time to look into this. How can it be checked whether countries or their governments are sincere in saying they need more “time to look into this issue?” If, in other situations, these political and government figures say that they need “more time to look into the issue,” then in this particular case, they had the right to say so.
In other cases, they did not to check anything before accusing Russia, like with the far-fetched stories regarding Salisbury, or accusing the Syrian government of using chemical weapons. There could be a million examples of them not feeling the need to verify anything. They needed just a few hours to make indictments or statements, even with decisions to impose sanctions, expel diplomats, and demand the same from others. This is not just double standards or hypocrisy, but their own semi-decay. Events taking place in the world cannot be viewed cardinally differently by the very same people. This does not work. There may be different assessments but not a system of analysis aimed at reaching relevant conclusions with absolutely opposite results. The same methodology should be applied. Objectivity and reliance on facts are required. Or additional information should be requested if necessary. I have not seen such an imbalance for a long time. When they need to, Westerners issue indictments and make decisions at cosmic speed, and when they don’t, they drag out the process and say that more time is needed, and then they never return to this topic at all.
I have just mentioned the incident in Salisbury, Amesbury, about the Skripal case, Novichok, and so on. What was done back then? Within a few hours there was an address by the British Prime Minister, speeches in the British Parliament, decisive actions (as they said) to protect national security, the expulsion of diplomats, meetings within NATO and demands from other member countries to expel Russian diplomats. Everything happened within just a few hours. Where were these examinations carried out? How were partners informed? How was the factual information communicated to them? Nobody says anything. Everything was done instantly.
I will say it again. It took several hours or days to discover everything, investigate, conduct an examination of (as they stated) the “chemical warfare agent,” take measures and implement them. Here once again there is a need to “obtain more detailed information.” They will never return to this topic.
You can say that I have given an irrelevant example. Here is another one. Do you remember the dramatics of the Western countries when a Ryanair plane landed in Belarus due to an alarm about the possibility of some illegal items aboard? There was the threat of a terrorist attack, a threat to security. The plane landed. Do you remember what kind of bacchanalia they staged regarding this flight? Everyone was alive and healthy; everything was within the legal norms. From A to Z. They ran to ICAO, then to NATO microphones, accusing everyone of everything, demanding meetings and applying pressure just to impose a desired label on the world audience or create a feeling of guilt of Minsk. When was it? This was not even in 2023 or 2022. Imagine how much time has passed. There was such hysteria. In the public consciousness, as they say, certain “facts proving the guilt of Belarus” have been consolidated at the information and psychological level. And they still cannot understand what really happened there, although everyone understands everything perfectly well. This is the level of cynicism.
Guilty verdicts are passed instantly in the form of statements, political decisions, and steps taken on international platforms when they need it. Then, when the public rightly demands some kind of evidence, all this is dissipated in the form of some investigative actions, investigations, meetings, sub-meetings, commissions, committees, executive bodies. All this drags on for years and leads to nothing. The same is happening here. Just like in Bucha. What was needed was the effect produced by an information bomb exploding in the first days and endless quoting and references to those events. What happened there? This is no longer important, and no one is interested in it, from the point of view of the Western “narrative.”
Question: The US government has given the state of Texas a deadline of Friday to allow federal border patrol agents access to Shelby Park at Eagle Pass on the border with Mexico. Do you think Russia should support Texas if a large conflict breaks out with massive violations of human rights?
Maria Zakharova: I believe this is the US’s internal affair. I think it must be solved through internal procedures.
If you are talking about human rights, then, of course, given that it was the United States that made this topic “transborder” and so international that, from Washington’s point of view, it could freely bypass the sovereignty and independence of states, I think keeping an eye on this issue is more than appropriate.
Question: Chisinau withdrew from nine agreements within the CIS and terminated the agreement on the concerted policy in natural gas transits of November 3, 1995. What effect will this have on Transnistria, and what are the developments concerning Moldova’s debt for gas purchases?
Maria Zakharova: We see no connection between Chisinau’s planned withdrawal from the aforementioned 1995 agreement and Russia’s gas exports to Transnistria. Russia withdrew from this international agreement back in February 2008.
As regards Moldova’s debt to Gazprom, we have commented on this many times. No updates.
Just as a reminder, Gazprom and representatives from the Moldovan government met for negotiations on gas exports in October 2021. At the time, the Russian company once again reaffirmed its willingness to consider Moldova’s interests, accepting all proposals from Chisinau. A protocol was signed that included a number of obligations for the Moldovan side, including an audit of historical debt. So far, the Moldovan authorities have failed to implement any of the agreements.
In September 2023, Moldova’s Ministry of Energy published an “audit report of historical debt,” that denies any actual liability. However, the report did not comply with international standards and requirements for an independent audit process; it cannot be considered a proper and final audit document, with its conclusions unable to have any effect on the amount and validity of the debt that has been documented and acknowledged by international arbitration.
In this regard, we would like to note once again that Gazprom is a reliable energy resource supplier. We urge official Chisinau to take a similar responsible approach to fulfilling its obligations.
Question: Moldova terminated two agreements on military observer groups and collective peacekeeping forces from March and August 1992. Will this affect Russian peacekeeper status in Transnistria?
Maria Zakharova: These agreements that Moldova intends to withdraw from were signed within the CIS.
As regards the peacekeeping mission on the Dniester, this is based on the Agreement on the Principles for a Peaceful Settlement of the Armed Conflict in the Dniester Region of the Republic of Moldova, signed on July 21, 1992 by the presidents of Russia and Moldova in the presence of the leader of Transnistria. Russian peacekeepers were sent to the region on July 29, 1992, and are stationed on the left bank of the Dniester River, as specified in the document’s articles 2 and 4. Along with the Moldovan and Transnistrian contingents, they constitute the Joint Peacekeeping Forces.
The peacekeeping mission mandate directly links the duration of Russia’s participation to achieving a political agreement to resolve the Transnistria conflict. There is still a long way to go. Russia’s stance remains unchanged: the peacekeepers, who have secured peace on the Dniester for over three decades, must continue their mission. The developments around Transnistria, which could be aggravated because of the efforts by a Russophobic regime, only reaffirm the need to carry on this peacekeeping operation.
Your questions concern not only Moldova, but to a greater extent the principles that pro-Western forces choose to act on. Moldova had received energy resources and is in debt, but has suddenly claimed it had no liability after auditing it. How can the signed documents be trusted then? Should the situation change, they will say again that they are not indebted to anyone, claiming all references to any documents as invalid. Do you understand what this is all about?
Regrettably, this is becoming typical of everything that the collective West touches, and the case is more than obvious with the current Moldovan government and leadership that the Western touch has affected – I would even say, infiltrated.
Question: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that he sees no direct threat to the alliance from Russia. But the bloc has recently begun the largest military exercise in a decade called Resilient Defender. Against whom are they training to defend themselves? Does Russia plan to respond to these exercises?
Maria Zakharova: Just commented on this. They train not to defend themselves, only to expand and attack. They don't attack only when they realise they will be rebuffed. This is clear from the history of the last few decades, the strategy is obvious.
Among other things, they need to distract the population from a political and media perspective of the situation in Ukraine, which has failed for the West, to mobilise their own economy, to pull it out of recession. How can they do it? With command-and-control levers. Their liberal economic system does not work. It has driven itself into the current situation because of the actions of the West. Western countries themselves destroyed all the liberal foundations of the economy by imposing sanctions, manual management, the dominance of politics over the economy, etc. Elements of command-administrative resuscitation of the economy are linked to military and political issues. And I have already spoken about our reaction.
Question:Recently, the Press Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China published a white paper entitled China's Legal Framework and Measures for Counterterrorism. It is China's first official document to systematically address this topic. It says that some countries apply double standards to counterterrorism issues, politicising human rights and using them as a weapon to attack other countries' anti-terrorist actions. At present, the situation with terrorist acts in the world is only getting worse. What are the main reasons for this? What is your assessment of China's counterterrorism actions?
Maria Zakharova: The publication of the white paper entitled China's Legal Framework and Measures for Counterterrorism seems very timely and reflects a similar key assessment shared by Russia of the threats rising in the world given the degradation of the international system of terrorism security.
Working closely with our Chinese partners in various relevant forums, primarily in the UN, BRICS and SCO, and developing bilateral counterterrorism cooperation, we can say with confidence that China and Russia are consistently building a strategy aimed at combating terrorism on the basis of international law without prejudice to the interests of each other or third states.
This cannot be said of the “collective West,” primarily the United States and its satellites. I remember the times when Washington proclaimed itself literally the leader in the fight against world terrorism and the setter of anti-terrorist standards. They developed international legal documents and were active in international affairs.
Today they support terrorist networks all over the world without hiding it. They are turning counterterrorism into a tool for achieving their geopolitical or political interests. A lot of information has already been revealed about how the West, primarily the United States and Britain, sponsor terrorist and extremist cells. They call them “moderates” who “promote their interests” in the regions, etc. In an attempt to maintain their elusive dominance, they create “controlled chaos” in various regions for this purpose, including through the use of terrorist elements.
At the moment, it is obvious that Washington and its allies have failed in their role as the world's guarantor of security, and their prescriptions for combating terrorism increasingly reflect political cynicism and criminal irresponsibility. This is confirmed by the shameful flight from Afghanistan, the catastrophe in the Middle East, support for the neo-Nazi Kiev regime in Ukraine, which openly uses terrorist methods, and the blocking of international anti-terrorism efforts which are being replaced by a policy of double standards that benefit the domestic political situation. The evidence is abundant.
The document published by our Chinese colleagues is an important signal to all constructive forces to unite and work systematically to ensure global security and stability and the formation of a just and sustainable multipolar world based on international law and respect for national sovereignty, as reflected in the decisions.
Question: Last Tuesday, the Parliament of Türkiye approved Stockholm’s NATO membership application, and on Wednesday, Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban said in a telephone conversation with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that the Hungarian Government supports Sweden’s membership and will contribute to the ratification of this move by the parliament. How does the Foreign Ministry assess these steps by countries that are used to protecting their own interests and that don’t always agree with Washington or Brussels?
Maria Zakharova: We have never forgotten that NATO has a command-and-control system close to a totalitarian one. Maybe in the late 1980s and early 1990s, we had certain illusions. Then everyone woke up. We constantly talk about it. First, in confidence, including with the alliance, and now openly.
We always remember that the bloc uses a command and control, totalitarian-like system that resembles a sect. We always remember it.
As for Sweden’s membership in NATO, I just talked about it in detail.
Question: At a news conference following talks with Foreign Minister of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on December 27, 2023, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the parties had discussed the prospects for military and technical cooperation, including the joint production of advanced weapons. Can you please specify what weapons they talked about and if there have been concrete contracts and agreements?
Maria Zakharova: The Foreign Ministry is engaged in the coordination of our country’s foreign policy, including summarising the results of the work in various areas within the public domain. Specific agencies are in charge of real projects. You are talking about the military and industrial complex, which falls under the authority of the Russian Defence Ministry, other related agencies, and that entire sector.
Let me remind you that in 2000, the Russian-Indian Intergovernmental Commission for Military and Technical Cooperation was established. It is led by Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu. The Commission’s main objective is to coordinate the process of military and technical cooperation between Russia and India. So, you should address these agencies to learn more details, names, dates, volumes, contracts and other issues. If you need help contacting them, we will be happy to assist you.
Question: How are Russia’s relations with the African continent, in particular, with the countries in West Africa developing after government changes in the Central African Republic, Niger, Chad, Mali, and Burkina Faso?
Can you please provide a detailed comment on the statement made by Sergey Lavrov’s at a news conference on January 18, 2024, that one of the European countries (non-English-speaking) suggested helping Russia strengthen its position in Africa?
Maria Zakharova: Following the 2nd Russia-Africa Summit, the comprehensive Joint Declaration was adopted which outlines how we will develop our relations.
You mentioned several countries. I am prepared to provide you with reference materials on our cooperation in various areas.
We promptly responded to the requests from the leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to assist them in combatting terrorism and extremism, provided free and concessional shipments of grain, fertilisers and petroleum products, and personnel training. We are seeing an appreciative and interested reaction which shows the efficiency of the provided assistance and good prospects for bilateral cooperation.
I have nothing to add to the words by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. If you can specify what you mean, I will find the information, but I can only quote Sergey Lavrov now. If you want specific details, I will be happy to learn them and get back to you.
Question: The whole world was watching how a queue of Sergey Lavrov’s colleagues from different countries, including Asian ones, lined up to see him during the UN Security Council events in New York. How do you assess the results of the Minister’s talks with his Asian partners and the significance of the Asian agenda in the current work of the Foreign Ministry?
Maria Zakharova: These comparisons (like “lined up in a queue”) should be avoided for one simple reason: we do not feel inequality in the dialogue. There is a joint desire to develop relations with those with whom this can be done on a mutually respectful, mutually beneficial basis, based on international law and bilateral documents regulating cooperation.
In the context of statements about the “isolation” of Russia, we can see that many different countries, continents, and peoples are interested in Russia. I agree with this. But talking about a “queue” is not very appropriate. We had offers and requests for meetings. We organised them in the traditional way, according to the canons of diplomacy.
What was the result? Bilateral and multilateral issues were discussed, and in some cases, talks were scheduled, and the results of past contacts at various levels were reviewed. Each meeting is valuable in itself and of particular interest to us.
If you want to hear our assessment of a specific meeting, ask about it. Although all the information can be found in the relevant media reports.
Question: During an interview with LCI, China’s Ambassador to France Lu Shaye said that former Soviet republics do not have an effective status in international law due to the absence of an international agreement that solidifies their status as sovereign states. Does the Russian Foreign Ministry agree with the statement made by the Chinese Ambassador to France?
Maria Zakharova: I operate under the assumption that our actions are guided by national legislation, which governs our ties with the former republics (qualifying them as relations between sovereign states), as well as our status as the successor to the Soviet Union and a sovereign state.
I respect diverse perspectives of political scientists, historians, and experts who delve into that period, examine documents, and seek answers to questions or contradictions. However, there are documents that regulate the work of the foreign ministry and the state as a whole, as well as our relations as sovereign states.
Question: The UN is built upon three core principles: territorial integrity, the right of nations to self-determination, and the sovereignty of states. Will the world become multipolar? Or will we continue to live in a unipolar world with one centre of power and decision-making in Washington, DC?
Maria Zakharova: The world will become multipolar. It is already becoming multipolar. This is already taking shape in the form of realities that require a legislative and legal framework, as well as in the form of economic ties. This is a clear and unequivocal answer.
Question: On January 17, a meeting was held with Memorial member Yan Rachinsky at the residence of the Canadian Ambassador in Moscow. Yan Rachinsky was warmly greeted by a large gathering of the National Liberation Movement. In light of this, there is a question as to why such individuals can move freely throughout our country? As per the decision of the Russian Ministry of Justice, Memorial has been included in the list of non-profit organisations acting as foreign agents. Does the Foreign Ministry have any plans to impose restrictions on individuals who work for other states?
Maria Zakharova: You have raised a matter concerning Russian law; therefore, I recommend contacting law enforcement agencies or judicial authorities if you observe any violations of the laws of the Russian Federation on the Russian territory.
Question: The International Court of Justice issued an interim ruling on South Africa's claim against Israel, demanding that all necessary measures be taken to prevent acts of genocide. How would you comment on this ruling?
Maria Zakharova: I will definitely provide a comment based on the opinion of our lawyers, who are currently in the process of drafting it.
Question: Do you believe that the US and coalition’s operation in the Red Sea is an attempt to divert attention from Israel’s actions in Gaza?
Maria Zakharova: It is not just an attempt to divert attention, but rather an additional act to implement the policy of chaos and destabilise the situation in the region. This is consistent with the typical approach of the United States, as they aim to take certain actions that align with their current interests (according to the US understanding). Unfortunately, this is their traditional pattern.
Question: I have a question about the terrorist attack in Iran. Representatives of the ISIS-Khorasan organisation in Tajikistan claimed responsibility for the explosion in Kerman. Does Russia believe that ISIS-Khorasan is consolidating its positions in Tajikistan? Does Moscow view this as a threat? How do terrorists from the Middle East reach Central Asia, including Afghanistan?
Maria Zakharova: To the best of our knowledge, the Afghan cell of the banned ISIS Khorasan Province organisation has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Kerman, Iran. We have no information about this cell’s connections with Tajikistan, except for the fact that one of the two suicide bombers was a citizen of Tajikistan, according to Iranian sources. I want to emphasise that these are Iranian sources.
The ISIS Khorasan Province organisation, an Afghan wing of this terrorist group, has approximately 4,000 to 6,000 members, including their families, on the territory of Afghanistan. ISIS terrorists pose a threat to the security of Afghanistan and the entire region.
We are closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan and on the Tajik-Afghan border. Moscow and Dushanbe maintain intensive contacts between their defence ministries, border services and diplomatic missions. This cooperation extends to multilateral regional platforms, including the Moscow format of consultations on Afghanistan, the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and the mechanism of countries neighbouring on Afghanistan.
Furthermore, the Russian Federation provides substantial assistance in strengthening the defence capability of that country, which is friendly towards Russia. The 201st Russian Military Base plays an important role in maintaining stability in Central Asia and along the CSTO’s southern boundaries, and we ensure its permanent combat readiness.
We constantly emphasise at international platforms the need to prevent the spread of terrorist and extremist elements, including those originating from Afghanistan, to neighbouring states and Central Asia. At the same time, it is worth noting that terrorists from the Middle East can enter this region with the assistance of third countries. We have raised this concern on multiple occasions.
Question: In the early hours of January 15, 2024, Iran launched several ballistic missiles against civilian residential buildings in Erbil, killing four civilians and wounding six others. What is Russia’s position regarding Iranian attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan?
Maria Zakharova: I have already commented on this issue at our briefing on January 17, 2024.
I can only reiterate that we firmly believe in the importance of an uncompromising struggle against terrorist groups, regardless of their location. However, we maintain that any counter-terrorist operations conducted on the territory of other states must always be agreed upon and coordinated with the governments of those countries, specifically, Syria and Iraq that are friendly towards Russia. This approach will help minimise civilian casualties and humanitarian risks.
Question: During his press conference on January 23, 2024, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan commented on the statement by Russian officials that Azerbaijan seized Nagorno-Karabakh because of Armenia's Prague agreement. He urged his Russian colleagues to present the causal connections and chronological sequence accurately and at the very least to avoid making accusations against the Armenian side, when the Armenian side was not to blame. He pointed out that the Prague agreements were preceded by Armenia's consent to the Russian settlement plan and Azerbaijan's rejection of it, followed by Azerbaijan's aggression, for which, according to him, Armenia did not receive assistance from Russia (although it applied for it) neither within the framework of the CSTO nor through bilateral agreements. Would you comment on this?
Maria Zakharova: The content and tone of Ararat Mirzoyan's closing press conference cannot but cause regret. Instead of drawing objective conclusions from his own mistakes and miscalculations, another attempt has been made to hold Russia responsible for them. This has no grounds whatsoever. These mistakes are not ours, but, unfortunately, those of official Yerevan. This applies both to relations with our country and Armenian-Azerbaijani normalisation.
A detailed analysis of Ararat Mirzoyan's interview is of no practical use, as almost every part of it contains distortion or falsification of facts. I will only mention a number of points. Although we may publish additional material on this subject.
There is no truth in the statement of the Armenian foreign minister, alleging that it was only in August 2022 that the Russian side proposed to postpone the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh status "until later." It is well known that this was the language used in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. In the trilateral format, a "gentleman's agreement" on this issue was secured during the contacts between the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in November 2020, resulting in the adoption of a trilateral statement at the highest level on November 9, 2020.
Ararat Mirzoyan's interpretation of the events surrounding Yerevan's appeal to Russia and the CSTO in connection with the aggravation in the border regions of Armenia and Azerbaijan in September 2022 does not correspond to reality either. At that time, we received an appeal from the Armenian leadership with a request to assist in resolving the situation in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements. Russian-Armenian consultations were held at various levels, including through the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Defence. As for the CSTO, the Collective Security Council was convened without delay, the Secretary General of the Organisation Stanislav Zas and the Chief of the Joint Staff Anatoly Sidorov arrived in the republic. As a result of the visit, it was proposed to send a CSTO mission to Armenia. If the Armenian leadership had not stalled the issue, such a mission would have functioned successfully on site, contributing to the prevention of incidents. Instead, Yerevan decided to act differently – they called in the EU observers. And the main task of these “comrades” is to collect intelligence information about Russia and Iran.
It is no secret that the September 2022 border clashes were preceded by the summit of Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Brussels under the auspices of European Council President Charles Michel on August 31, 2022. That is, if we follow Mr Mirzoyan's logic of some causal connections, this Brussels meeting failed to remove the disagreement between the parties and became the cause of the escalation that followed.
We can also see contradictions in the words that, on the one hand, the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, “is by and large not in force,” but on the other hand, "Armenia is committed to fulfilling its obligations." One can only marvel at the verbal equilibrium probably intended to win over the audience, to please the Western partners and to invent some new formula. I cannot explain why we heard and saw such a contradiction and inconsistency with the facts. And all this against the backdrop of an attempt to ignore the well-established work in the trilateral format.
In conclusion, we should note that invitations to Moscow for consultations on the peace treaty were sent to Ararat Mirzoyan on numerous occasions, from last September onwards. Besides, all this was discussed during bilateral contacts at various levels. The latest signal to Yerevan was conveyed just a few days ago.
Question: What is the sovereignty of Ukraine based on, if according to Law 1409 on the withdrawal of union republics from the USSR in 1990, the withdrawal did not take place and Ukraine did not comply with the legal procedure. Back in 1991, the law was in force, and even today we have not been able to find a document repealing this law. Why doesn’t Russia take the path of challenging the sovereignty of Ukraine, for example in court?
Maria Zakharova: I don’t think this question is for me. I think that legal specialists and lawyers who deal with similar issues should assist here. We are an agency that implements the foreign policy course approved by the leadership of the state. Moreover, we have been working according to the principle of continuity for quite a long time. I repeat, as a matter of discussion, I will be happy to ask our legal experts this question.
Question: Maybe you can initiate a discussion on this issue?
Maria Zakharova: I am not sure this question should be addressed to the Foreign Ministry.
Question: It has been said many times, including by President of Russia Vladimir Putin, that the sovereignty of Ukraine is based on the Declaration of Independence. Why are we not initiating a procedure for restoring a united Fatherland on the basis of international law, as enshrined in the results of 1945, because it has paramount importance in relation to declarations of independence?
Maria Zakharova: Once again, this question may be discussed as long as you like.
I can only repeat that in Article 1 of the Treaty on the Principles of Relations between the RSFSR and the Ukrainian SSR, signed on November 19, 1990, the two republics recognised each other as sovereign states.
The 1990 Treaty was replaced by the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, dated May 31, 1997 (Article 39), which was denounced by Ukraine and terminated on April 1, 2019. We will be happy to prepare material on how Ukraine did not comply with this Treaty of Friendship.
Question: Why can’t we change military doctrine and target US cities with strategic nuclear missiles, as was the case in the Soviet Union? The United States did not then permit itself to unleash bloody wars around the world.
Maria Zakharova: I do not think that there is anything to stop this so far as you and I are concerned. However, it would have no effect. It is the Russian Ministry of Defence that deals with drafting and amending military doctrines and oversees military planning issues.
Question: The Russian Foreign Ministry could negotiate more effectively and successfully in the international arena if the US was afraid. This is more or less how the USSR acted, and the US did not do anything or organise any wars.
Maria Zakharova: You are deeply mistaken that the US did not “organise wars.” During the Cold War, they organised many military coups, wars, conflicts under false flags. You name it.
Remember the Korean Peninsula, Vietnam. Don’t you know this? I think you know this very well.
Question: They did not supply weapons to the Soviet Union’s territory, they did not provide mercenaries, or fight here, but somewhere in Vietnam...
Maria Zakharova: I always advise everyone to watch the film Triumph Over Violence as a must.
You are right in saying that immediately after the war, when everyone had just decided on everything, we were allies, while at the same time we divided Europe into zones of responsibility and influence.
The Soviet Union was the winner in this war, defeating fascism and Nazism.
However, immediately after the end of the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War, after the creation of the United Nations with its Charter, with the principles of sovereignty, non-interference, and respect enshrined there, after the Nuremberg Tribunal, which branded and put the Nazis in the dock, the transfer of saboteurs began, who were supposed to, from the point of view of the collective West (since the United States and NATO structures were behind this), commit illegal actions and acts within the territory of the Soviet Union. This is just one example.
Read the memoirs of Western politicians. Hillary Clinton was very honest about how much money the United States spent on subversive work against the Soviet Union. With regard to the point that they did not do anything like that, the fact is they did.
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