Russia is no stranger to defending its interests, the way it understands them, but at the same time the country always leaves the door open for cooperation, said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
“We never close ourselves off from anyone, but you just have to get used to the fact that they don’t like us. This, unfortunately, manifests itself in various spheres of human activity. Union and after the first years of the Russian Federation – in the sense in which it now exists – these illusions were dispelled”, – he explained at the webinar Russia’s Foreign Policy: Successes, Challenges, Tasks and Prospects held at the United Russia site.
“This irritation that Russia” did not live up to expectations “and takes an independent position … especially when the West wants to dictate to everyone else, and not negotiate with everyone else … this, unfortunately, will continue to manifest itself”, – added Lavrov.
He noted that this line of the West is clearly manifested in the documents of summits and meetings of NATO and the European Union. As the head of the diplomatic service, Russia is considered everywhere an enemy and a threat against which it is necessary to act as a united front.
Relations between Moscow and Western countries deteriorated after the coup in Ukraine, the return of Crimea and the outbreak of the conflict in Donbass. European countries and the United States accused the Kremlin of meddling and imposed sanctions against it, Russia reacted in a mirror-like manner. At the same time, the country’s authorities have repeatedly stated that they consider such actions to be counterproductive, and stressed that they do not participate in the civil confrontation in the south-east of Ukraine.