Moscow: During a formal ceremony at the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin received the credentials of 28 newly appointed ambassadors, including representatives from NATO and EU countries.
A Platform for Criticism
Though the event was intended to mark the official start of these diplomats’ mandates in Moscow, Putin used the occasion to deliver sharp criticism of Western nations, accusing them of escalating tensions and further isolating Russia on the global stage, as reported by Ziare. Addressing ambassadors from countries including Japan, Canada, Italy, Spain, and Finland, Putin emphasized the strained relations between Russia and many Western nations.
“It’s no secret that our bilateral relations have been minimized, officially and commercially, and that interactions on international and regional issues have frozen,” Putin stated, underlining the diplomatic and economic challenges Russia faces amid global conflicts and sanctions.
Russia’s Call for Cooperation
Despite his pointed comments, Putin maintained that Russia seeks “mutually beneficial cooperation” and attributed the current disconnect to Western leaders. “Russia does not seek confrontation,” he remarked, expressing hope that “rational and balanced cooperation with Russia will eventually prevail.”
Remarks on Ukraine and the Role of the West
Turning to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Putin reiterated his long-standing claim that Western nations thwarted early peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine. He argued that at the outset of the conflict, Russia had been open to negotiations and even reached a preliminary agreement, which he claims Ukraine later rejected under external influence.
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“Some countries wanted Ukraine to become a fatal weapon against Russia,” Putin stated, accusing the West of deliberate hostility toward Russia’s interests.
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In a message to Western leaders, Putin warned that attempts to deliver a “strategic defeat” to Russia were “deeply misguided”, dismissing such actions as naive and rooted in a lack of understanding of Russia’s history and resilience.
