Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Excerpt from the interview with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for 'Bridges to the East' documentary, Moscow (August 31, 2024)
❓ Question: You mentioned the Kursk region earlier. I’d be remiss not to ask you a question about ongoing developments. You pointed out not long ago that Zelensky would have never dared invade the Kursk Region without orders from the United States. What is the West trying to accomplish by doing what it is doing and by flooding Ukraine nonstop with more weapons and mercenaries?
There are media reports where Zelensky may be possibly replaced by someone else. If that happens, will talks with Kiev remain on the table?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: I find it hard to tell what their exact plan was, because our Western colleagues have a devious mind and they often do things their own way, but nothing ever comes of it.
<...>
It’s hard to figure what their goals and plans were. Political analysts are discussing this. Even Zelensky said they needed this for future prisoner swaps, so he will thus capture some prisoners and grab some square kilometres in the process. This is so naive and guileless.
We do not discuss our territory with anyone. We do not hold talks over our territory. We are ready to discuss cutting short the crimes that the Kiev regime committed after the coup.
It started bombing its own cities because people in these cities refused to recognise the outcomes of the coup. These people rose up against the decision of the militants who came to power and banned the Russian language in all spheres of life. These people were declared terrorists. We were ready to negotiate in order to stop this. We held talks, which resulted in signing the Minsk agreements, which, as has recently been made public, no one ever planned to act upon. All they wanted was buy time to arm the Nazi regime, which continued to choke off everything Russian, with weapons for waging war against Russia.
❗️ To protect the rights of these people, their history, the legacy of their ancestors, their language, religion, and their culture, we were compelled to recognise the DPR and the LPR and to stand up for them as they requested us to do, and in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.
We supported the talks that led to the signing of the agreements between then-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich and the opposition in February 2014. The opposition tore them up the next morning and staged a bloody coup. Have those agreements been implemented, Ukraine would now be within its 1991 borders, which Zelensky dreams of.
If a year later, in February 2015, the Ukrainian leadership and its backers, France and Germany, had implemented the Minsk agreements, Ukraine would have still been within its 1991 borders, though without Crimea for obvious reasons. Had Ukraine fulfilled what we agreed upon in Istanbul in April 2022 and not listened to then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who told it not to do so, it would still be within its 1991 borders, less Crimea and a significant portion of Donbass.
Each time, Ukrainians were hopeless in their inability to reach and honour agreements. The West made it clear that it needed Ukraine only to hurt Russia, to annoy us, and to wage war against our country. The Western countries never had any use for these agreements. Each time the agreed-upon documents were sabotaged, Ukraine had more to lose.
<...>
In Istanbul, less than a month into the special military operation, reaching an agreement was easy. Ukraine didn’t want this, because it had not yet fully achieved its goal of “exhausting” Russia.
<...>
❓ Question: So, the subject of talks can make it back to the table provided these conditions are met?
Right now, talks are off the table. We are tired of saying that the President has made this point many times. Those who are implying that Russia is “turning negotiations down” while Ukraine is ready for them should take President Putin’s advice and tell Zelensky (when he is of sound mind and lucid memory) to cancel the executive order that bans talks.
❓ Question: You mentioned the Kursk region earlier. I’d be remiss not to ask you a question about ongoing developments. You pointed out not long ago that Zelensky would have never dared invade the Kursk Region without orders from the United States. What is the West trying to accomplish by doing what it is doing and by flooding Ukraine nonstop with more weapons and mercenaries?
There are media reports where Zelensky may be possibly replaced by someone else. If that happens, will talks with Kiev remain on the table?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: I find it hard to tell what their exact plan was, because our Western colleagues have a devious mind and they often do things their own way, but nothing ever comes of it.
<...>
It’s hard to figure what their goals and plans were. Political analysts are discussing this. Even Zelensky said they needed this for future prisoner swaps, so he will thus capture some prisoners and grab some square kilometres in the process. This is so naive and guileless.
We do not discuss our territory with anyone. We do not hold talks over our territory. We are ready to discuss cutting short the crimes that the Kiev regime committed after the coup.
It started bombing its own cities because people in these cities refused to recognise the outcomes of the coup. These people rose up against the decision of the militants who came to power and banned the Russian language in all spheres of life. These people were declared terrorists. We were ready to negotiate in order to stop this. We held talks, which resulted in signing the Minsk agreements, which, as has recently been made public, no one ever planned to act upon. All they wanted was buy time to arm the Nazi regime, which continued to choke off everything Russian, with weapons for waging war against Russia.
❗️ To protect the rights of these people, their history, the legacy of their ancestors, their language, religion, and their culture, we were compelled to recognise the DPR and the LPR and to stand up for them as they requested us to do, and in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.
We supported the talks that led to the signing of the agreements between then-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich and the opposition in February 2014. The opposition tore them up the next morning and staged a bloody coup. Have those agreements been implemented, Ukraine would now be within its 1991 borders, which Zelensky dreams of.
If a year later, in February 2015, the Ukrainian leadership and its backers, France and Germany, had implemented the Minsk agreements, Ukraine would have still been within its 1991 borders, though without Crimea for obvious reasons. Had Ukraine fulfilled what we agreed upon in Istanbul in April 2022 and not listened to then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who told it not to do so, it would still be within its 1991 borders, less Crimea and a significant portion of Donbass.
Each time, Ukrainians were hopeless in their inability to reach and honour agreements. The West made it clear that it needed Ukraine only to hurt Russia, to annoy us, and to wage war against our country. The Western countries never had any use for these agreements. Each time the agreed-upon documents were sabotaged, Ukraine had more to lose.
<...>
In Istanbul, less than a month into the special military operation, reaching an agreement was easy. Ukraine didn’t want this, because it had not yet fully achieved its goal of “exhausting” Russia.
<...>
❓ Question: So, the subject of talks can make it back to the table provided these conditions are met?
Right now, talks are off the table. We are tired of saying that the President has made this point many times. Those who are implying that Russia is “turning negotiations down” while Ukraine is ready for them should take President Putin’s advice and tell Zelensky (when he is of sound mind and lucid memory) to cancel the executive order that bans talks.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answer to a question of the Moscow.Kremlin.Putin programme (Ulaanbaatar, September 3, 2024)
❓Question: You have said that the atmosphere is great. The EU and the US have expressed concern that Mongolia is receiving President Putin.
💬 Sergey Lavrov: I pity them if they are concerned with such a good occasion. Two neighbours, two countries that fought side-by-side during WWII. We were allies with Mongolia at the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, and Mongolia was our ally in the Great Patriotic War.
If people raise questions about our close ties, then perhaps these are the people who have allowed Nazi undertones slip through again. And not just in their remarks, but in actions through their support of the Kiev regime.
❓Question: You have said that the atmosphere is great. The EU and the US have expressed concern that Mongolia is receiving President Putin.
💬 Sergey Lavrov: I pity them if they are concerned with such a good occasion. Two neighbours, two countries that fought side-by-side during WWII. We were allies with Mongolia at the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, and Mongolia was our ally in the Great Patriotic War.
If people raise questions about our close ties, then perhaps these are the people who have allowed Nazi undertones slip through again. And not just in their remarks, but in actions through their support of the Kiev regime.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
✍️ Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s greetings to the organisers of and participants in a commemorative meeting on the 79th anniversary of Victory over militarist Japan and the end of the World War II
💬 It is a great honour and privilege for me to send my greetings to the participants in the commemorative meeting organised by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation to mark the 79th anniversary of Victory over militarist Japan and the end of World War II.
Today, we remember the feat accomplished by the Soviet soldiers. They formed a single front with the people of China and Mongolia and had to bear the brunt of the aggressive push by the Japanese militarist regime, including in the heat of the battles of Lake Khasan and Khalkhin Gol River, and all this happened before Hitler staged his treacherous invasion of the Soviet Union.
The fact that we emerged victorious from these battles was instrumental in terms of military and foreign policy affairs for securing our far eastern borders. In 1945, our country made a decisive contribution to delivering a final blow to the Japanese militarist regime.
Unfortunately, the collective West has been stepping up its efforts and multiplying attempts to rewrite history by whitewashing those who stained their names forever by perpetrating war crimes and crimes against humanity. Tokyo’s official position consists of refusing to repent the aggression against several countries, including the USSR. Moreover, it persists with its absurd accusations alleging that it was our country that unleashed World War II.
We can see that they have been consistently seeking to falsify facts dealing with the creation of the Tripartite Pact by militarist Japan, Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, as well as the fact that Tokyo offered military, technical and logistics support to the Third Reich during its invasion of the Soviet Union.
At the same time, the Japanese authorities have been intentionally silencing the fact that it was the United States which bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Instead, the annual commemorations in these cities offer a stage for making sacrilegious statements alleging that the threat of using nuclear weapons comes from Russia.
☝️ Against this backdrop, we believe that it is high time that we highlight the courage and valour demonstrated by the Red Army soldiers and officers who defeated the Kwantung Army. Together with its friends in China and Mongolia, the Foreign Ministry has been acting on multiple fronts in its awareness, outreach and educational efforts, as well as commemorative and memorial work to expose more crimes perpetrated by Japan during World War II. We believe that Tokyo’s compliance with the peace-related provisions of its own constitution would strengthen regional and global security.
In conclusion, I would like to thank the senior officials from the Russian Defence Ministry for their initiative to convene this gathering and for making all these effective arrangements. I wish you fruitful work and all the best.
💬 It is a great honour and privilege for me to send my greetings to the participants in the commemorative meeting organised by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation to mark the 79th anniversary of Victory over militarist Japan and the end of World War II.
Today, we remember the feat accomplished by the Soviet soldiers. They formed a single front with the people of China and Mongolia and had to bear the brunt of the aggressive push by the Japanese militarist regime, including in the heat of the battles of Lake Khasan and Khalkhin Gol River, and all this happened before Hitler staged his treacherous invasion of the Soviet Union.
The fact that we emerged victorious from these battles was instrumental in terms of military and foreign policy affairs for securing our far eastern borders. In 1945, our country made a decisive contribution to delivering a final blow to the Japanese militarist regime.
Unfortunately, the collective West has been stepping up its efforts and multiplying attempts to rewrite history by whitewashing those who stained their names forever by perpetrating war crimes and crimes against humanity. Tokyo’s official position consists of refusing to repent the aggression against several countries, including the USSR. Moreover, it persists with its absurd accusations alleging that it was our country that unleashed World War II.
We can see that they have been consistently seeking to falsify facts dealing with the creation of the Tripartite Pact by militarist Japan, Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, as well as the fact that Tokyo offered military, technical and logistics support to the Third Reich during its invasion of the Soviet Union.
At the same time, the Japanese authorities have been intentionally silencing the fact that it was the United States which bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Instead, the annual commemorations in these cities offer a stage for making sacrilegious statements alleging that the threat of using nuclear weapons comes from Russia.
☝️ Against this backdrop, we believe that it is high time that we highlight the courage and valour demonstrated by the Red Army soldiers and officers who defeated the Kwantung Army. Together with its friends in China and Mongolia, the Foreign Ministry has been acting on multiple fronts in its awareness, outreach and educational efforts, as well as commemorative and memorial work to expose more crimes perpetrated by Japan during World War II. We believe that Tokyo’s compliance with the peace-related provisions of its own constitution would strengthen regional and global security.
In conclusion, I would like to thank the senior officials from the Russian Defence Ministry for their initiative to convene this gathering and for making all these effective arrangements. I wish you fruitful work and all the best.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
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⚡️ Russian Foreign Ministry's Ambassador-at-Large on the Kiev Regime's War Crimes Rodion Miroshnik:
💬 Today's shelling of the Sokol market in Donetsk by the Ukrainian Armed Forces claimed a horrific toll of 13 people being hit, killing three people, including two children, leaving others injured.
According to the latest data of the DNR Joint Centre of Control and Coordination, during the shelling of the Sokol market in Donetsk three people were killed: a girl born in 2011, a teenage boy born in 2009, and a man born in 1989.
Another child – a boy born in 2013 – was moderately wounded.
Another eight people also sustained injuries and wounds from the shelling: men born in 1976, 1984, 1986, 1994, 1996 and 1998, and women born in 1975 and 1988. Two of the victims are in serious condition, the other six – with injuries of moderate severity.
📹 © RIA NOVOSTI
💬 Today's shelling of the Sokol market in Donetsk by the Ukrainian Armed Forces claimed a horrific toll of 13 people being hit, killing three people, including two children, leaving others injured.
According to the latest data of the DNR Joint Centre of Control and Coordination, during the shelling of the Sokol market in Donetsk three people were killed: a girl born in 2011, a teenage boy born in 2009, and a man born in 1989.
Another child – a boy born in 2013 – was moderately wounded.
Another eight people also sustained injuries and wounds from the shelling: men born in 1976, 1984, 1986, 1994, 1996 and 1998, and women born in 1975 and 1988. Two of the victims are in serious condition, the other six – with injuries of moderate severity.
📹 © RIA NOVOSTI
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks and answers to questions at a meeting with students and faculty of MGIMO University (Moscow, September 2, 2024)
💬 I would like to congratulate all of you on #KnowledgeDay.
I would like to highlight that, according to the statistics, MGIMO graduates hold important positions at the Central Office of the Government of Russia, particularly the Presidential Executive Office. Additionally, two-thirds of them join the Foreign Ministry staff every year. This speaks volumes about the “seal of excellence” associated with the diplomas from this great – without any exaggeration, for me at least – institution of higher learning.
We welcome the fact that MGIMO supplies the Foreign Ministry with most of its staff. We are always eager to welcome those whose qualifications meet the high standards of Russian diplomacy. I would like to address the final-year students: together, we will implement the Foreign Policy Concept approved by President Vladimir Putin in March 2023.
I am certain that you keep up with international news and developments on the global stage. The primary trend is the strengthening of new growth and development centres located outside the historical West.
Regional integration associations, such as the #SCO, the #EAEU, #ASEAN, the #CIS, the #LAS, the African Union, and #CELAC, play a significant role at the current stage of development of the multipolar world order. #BRICS, as it strengthens its influence and authority, increasingly acts as an informal global coordinator for these regional integration processes.
The globalisation, which the West pro-actively promoted for years, has been accepted as a method of interstate relations in the economy, technology and the financial sector. However, this globalisation model is now falling apart.
We will advance integration processes within the EAEU, CIS, SCO, ASEAN, and, of course, strengthen strategic partnership with China, India, Brazil, and all our other like-minded countries, working in the context of forming the Eurasian architecture. There are many, it is impossible to list them all. That is why we have a clear and comprehensible image of the future – multipolarity, based on another key principle of the UN Charter – sovereign equality of the state.
<...>
❗️The essence of Western policy towards Russia has always been based on the assumption that our country is too strong and independent and that something must be done to change this, preferably by pulling it down. History repeats itself. Today, these 50 countries have again been rallied under Nazi banners against Russia, considering the essence of Zelensky’s regime or even the chevrons and flags of the so-called Ukrainian army. <...> Today, all those who show independence and a will to defend their national interests within international law while refusing to play by Western rules, are under threat. It is clear, however, that these attempts are largely an agony of the West.
<...>
We do not seek to embed ourselves into various “schemes” that are being established by Western “rules” without our participation and without consideration of our interests. We will continue to champion widely held principles of international law and the UN Charter in their entirety instead of cherry-picking them as the West does.
President Putin has repeatedly stressed that “we are open to contacts with the countries of the ‘collective West’ on the understanding that they pivot away from their openly hostile course towards our country”. Any unfriendly moves will still be met with a tough response. The ball is not in our court, it is up to those who set out to deliberately destroy their relations with Russia and demonise our land and our nation.
Read in full
💬 I would like to congratulate all of you on #KnowledgeDay.
I would like to highlight that, according to the statistics, MGIMO graduates hold important positions at the Central Office of the Government of Russia, particularly the Presidential Executive Office. Additionally, two-thirds of them join the Foreign Ministry staff every year. This speaks volumes about the “seal of excellence” associated with the diplomas from this great – without any exaggeration, for me at least – institution of higher learning.
We welcome the fact that MGIMO supplies the Foreign Ministry with most of its staff. We are always eager to welcome those whose qualifications meet the high standards of Russian diplomacy. I would like to address the final-year students: together, we will implement the Foreign Policy Concept approved by President Vladimir Putin in March 2023.
I am certain that you keep up with international news and developments on the global stage. The primary trend is the strengthening of new growth and development centres located outside the historical West.
Regional integration associations, such as the #SCO, the #EAEU, #ASEAN, the #CIS, the #LAS, the African Union, and #CELAC, play a significant role at the current stage of development of the multipolar world order. #BRICS, as it strengthens its influence and authority, increasingly acts as an informal global coordinator for these regional integration processes.
The globalisation, which the West pro-actively promoted for years, has been accepted as a method of interstate relations in the economy, technology and the financial sector. However, this globalisation model is now falling apart.
We will advance integration processes within the EAEU, CIS, SCO, ASEAN, and, of course, strengthen strategic partnership with China, India, Brazil, and all our other like-minded countries, working in the context of forming the Eurasian architecture. There are many, it is impossible to list them all. That is why we have a clear and comprehensible image of the future – multipolarity, based on another key principle of the UN Charter – sovereign equality of the state.
<...>
❗️The essence of Western policy towards Russia has always been based on the assumption that our country is too strong and independent and that something must be done to change this, preferably by pulling it down. History repeats itself. Today, these 50 countries have again been rallied under Nazi banners against Russia, considering the essence of Zelensky’s regime or even the chevrons and flags of the so-called Ukrainian army. <...> Today, all those who show independence and a will to defend their national interests within international law while refusing to play by Western rules, are under threat. It is clear, however, that these attempts are largely an agony of the West.
<...>
We do not seek to embed ourselves into various “schemes” that are being established by Western “rules” without our participation and without consideration of our interests. We will continue to champion widely held principles of international law and the UN Charter in their entirety instead of cherry-picking them as the West does.
President Putin has repeatedly stressed that “we are open to contacts with the countries of the ‘collective West’ on the understanding that they pivot away from their openly hostile course towards our country”. Any unfriendly moves will still be met with a tough response. The ball is not in our court, it is up to those who set out to deliberately destroy their relations with Russia and demonise our land and our nation.
Read in full
Forwarded from TASS_Monde
🇷🇺 Le Forum économique oriental 2024 à Vladivostok
Photos, vidéo: Andreï Kirsanov/Vladimir Smirnov/TASS
#EEF #forum #vladivostok
Photos, vidéo: Andreï Kirsanov/Vladimir Smirnov/TASS
#EEF #forum #vladivostok
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇲🇾 President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim met on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.
💬 President Putin: Mr. Prime Minister, I would like to begin by thanking you for accepting our invitation to come here and attend the Eastern Economic Forum. Tomorrow, we will take part in its plenary session, and I am certain that this will be a useful event for discussing our objectives in bringing the regional economies closer together. In fact, we have many guests here from dozens of countries, which means that you will be able to engage in useful contacts not only with your Russian colleagues, but also with colleagues from other countries.
Of course, I do hope that we will have an opportunity to explore ways to expand our cooperation as part of these efforts. Today, trade between our countries amounts to about $3.5 billion, which can hardly be considered a satisfactory result for us considering the potential we have. In fact, there are many opportunities on both sides.
As you know, Russia pays considerable attention to developing its relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN. Malaysia plays a prominent role in this association, and will be assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN next year. We sincerely hope that during your chairmanship, we will be able to explore new opportunities for cooperation with this rapidly growing and promising region.
🎊 To conclude my opening remarks, I would like to congratulate you and the Malaysian leadership, as well as the entire nation on Independence Day, the national holiday you have celebrated recently. As far as I know, it is observed on August 31. I would like to use this opportunity to wish the people of Malaysia all the best, prosperity and wellbeing.
#RussiaMalaysia
💬 President Putin: Mr. Prime Minister, I would like to begin by thanking you for accepting our invitation to come here and attend the Eastern Economic Forum. Tomorrow, we will take part in its plenary session, and I am certain that this will be a useful event for discussing our objectives in bringing the regional economies closer together. In fact, we have many guests here from dozens of countries, which means that you will be able to engage in useful contacts not only with your Russian colleagues, but also with colleagues from other countries.
Of course, I do hope that we will have an opportunity to explore ways to expand our cooperation as part of these efforts. Today, trade between our countries amounts to about $3.5 billion, which can hardly be considered a satisfactory result for us considering the potential we have. In fact, there are many opportunities on both sides.
As you know, Russia pays considerable attention to developing its relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN. Malaysia plays a prominent role in this association, and will be assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN next year. We sincerely hope that during your chairmanship, we will be able to explore new opportunities for cooperation with this rapidly growing and promising region.
🎊 To conclude my opening remarks, I would like to congratulate you and the Malaysian leadership, as well as the entire nation on Independence Day, the national holiday you have celebrated recently. As far as I know, it is observed on August 31. I would like to use this opportunity to wish the people of Malaysia all the best, prosperity and wellbeing.
#RussiaMalaysia
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇨🇳 President of Russia Vladimir Putin met with Vice President of the People's Republic of China Han Zheng at the Far Eastern Federal University.
💬 President Putin: In October 2024, we will mark 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. That event had a profound impact on our bilateral relations and on development of modern China and our interstate ties.
As per our agreement, we hope to see President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping at the upcoming BRICS summit. I propose holding a bilateral meeting during that event.
Thanks to our joint efforts, relations between China and Russia have reached an unprecedented level. We attach great importance to interregional cooperation. I hope that during our meeting today and our work at the Eastern Economic Forum tomorrow, we will have the opportunity to explore and identify new areas for cooperation.
We are grateful to the President of the People’s Republic of China for sending such a substantial delegation to this forum. I would like to thank you for leading this delegation and for taking part in our joint work.
***
We are establishing subsidiaries of Russia’s leading world-class museums, theatres and musical venues here. I know that some performers who are popular with Chinese audiences have visited China many times, and have recently been on another tour. I hope that Vladivostok will also become a prominent hub for cultural exchanges and attract tourists from Russia, from all over the world and especially from China, which is our friend.
📄 Read in full
#RussiaChina
💬 President Putin: In October 2024, we will mark 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. That event had a profound impact on our bilateral relations and on development of modern China and our interstate ties.
As per our agreement, we hope to see President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping at the upcoming BRICS summit. I propose holding a bilateral meeting during that event.
Thanks to our joint efforts, relations between China and Russia have reached an unprecedented level. We attach great importance to interregional cooperation. I hope that during our meeting today and our work at the Eastern Economic Forum tomorrow, we will have the opportunity to explore and identify new areas for cooperation.
We are grateful to the President of the People’s Republic of China for sending such a substantial delegation to this forum. I would like to thank you for leading this delegation and for taking part in our joint work.
***
We are establishing subsidiaries of Russia’s leading world-class museums, theatres and musical venues here. I know that some performers who are popular with Chinese audiences have visited China many times, and have recently been on another tour. I hope that Vladivostok will also become a prominent hub for cultural exchanges and attract tourists from Russia, from all over the world and especially from China, which is our friend.
📄 Read in full
#RussiaChina
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🎙 Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s answer to a media question about the latest US restrictions against Russian media groups
❓ Question: The US Department of the Treasury has announced the adoption of another package of sanctions against the Rossiya Segodnya media group and some of its subsidiaries, including RT, Ruptly and Sputnik. These sanctions will affect many of its executives. What will be Russia’s response to this aggressive US move?
💬 Maria Zakharova: To begin with, these and other US attacks against Russian media outlets, including through the largest US mainstream publications, are the result of operations carefully orchestrated by intelligence services to purge the national and ultimately the global information space of any forms of “dissent.” These preplanned actions are obviously designed to create the media background for the implementation of relevant election decisions.
The latest round of this witch-hunting campaign is rooted in a desire to push society into permanent stress, infect it with artificial phobias, create an image of a hidden enemy, assigning this role to Russia. We know that the United States has the technologies for this and has used them many times before, with disturbing side effects and consequences.
The main goal of the current administration is to scare [or distract?] the Americans with a “Russian threat” and to create an imitation of active work ahead of the elections.
When the authorities resort to such primitive methods of influencing voters, it is evidence of the decline of “liberal values.”
As for the US restrictions on our media outlets, Washington has previously imposed numerous stringent restrictions on them, which is further evidence of the irreversible degradation of the democratic state in the United States and its transformation into a totalitarian neoliberal dictatorship. This is our diagnosis for the American administration, which has reduced media outlets to pawns in its interparty squabbles and is deliberately deceiving the pubic with allegations about somebody’s imaginary interference in “democratic processes.” Nevertheless, there is high demand for truthful information about global developments provided by RT, Rossiya Segodnya and other Russian media resources.
Meanwhile, the United States continues to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, infringing on the freedom of information, imposing its views on others, engaging in electoral engineering worldwide, and thereby provoking crises and conflicts with catastrophic humanitarian consequences.
The actions of the US authorities, which directly contradict their commitments to the freedom of information and media plurality, will not remain unanswered.
❗️ We warn once again that any attempt to expel Russian journalists from the United States, create unacceptable conditions for their work or hinder their professional operation in any other way, including through visa restrictions, will be regarded as grounds for a symmetric and/or asymmetric action against American media outlets.
❓ Question: The US Department of the Treasury has announced the adoption of another package of sanctions against the Rossiya Segodnya media group and some of its subsidiaries, including RT, Ruptly and Sputnik. These sanctions will affect many of its executives. What will be Russia’s response to this aggressive US move?
💬 Maria Zakharova: To begin with, these and other US attacks against Russian media outlets, including through the largest US mainstream publications, are the result of operations carefully orchestrated by intelligence services to purge the national and ultimately the global information space of any forms of “dissent.” These preplanned actions are obviously designed to create the media background for the implementation of relevant election decisions.
The latest round of this witch-hunting campaign is rooted in a desire to push society into permanent stress, infect it with artificial phobias, create an image of a hidden enemy, assigning this role to Russia. We know that the United States has the technologies for this and has used them many times before, with disturbing side effects and consequences.
The main goal of the current administration is to scare [or distract?] the Americans with a “Russian threat” and to create an imitation of active work ahead of the elections.
When the authorities resort to such primitive methods of influencing voters, it is evidence of the decline of “liberal values.”
As for the US restrictions on our media outlets, Washington has previously imposed numerous stringent restrictions on them, which is further evidence of the irreversible degradation of the democratic state in the United States and its transformation into a totalitarian neoliberal dictatorship. This is our diagnosis for the American administration, which has reduced media outlets to pawns in its interparty squabbles and is deliberately deceiving the pubic with allegations about somebody’s imaginary interference in “democratic processes.” Nevertheless, there is high demand for truthful information about global developments provided by RT, Rossiya Segodnya and other Russian media resources.
Meanwhile, the United States continues to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, infringing on the freedom of information, imposing its views on others, engaging in electoral engineering worldwide, and thereby provoking crises and conflicts with catastrophic humanitarian consequences.
The actions of the US authorities, which directly contradict their commitments to the freedom of information and media plurality, will not remain unanswered.
❗️ We warn once again that any attempt to expel Russian journalists from the United States, create unacceptable conditions for their work or hinder their professional operation in any other way, including through visa restrictions, will be regarded as grounds for a symmetric and/or asymmetric action against American media outlets.
Forwarded from TASS_Monde