Russian Ambassador to Malta Andrey Lopukhov said that the island state has lost its neutrality to become a platform for meetings between the Russian and American sides.
He said this in an interview with RIA Novosti.
According to him, the country is now not suitable as a mediator, despite its experience in hosting a meeting between CPSU Central Committee General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev and US President George Bush – Sr. in the past.
‘Malta, alas, has lost the impartiality it demonstrated in 1989,’ the diplomat noted.
Lopukhov recalled that the Maltese side votes in favour of all anti-Russian initiatives within the EU and follows the anti-Russian agenda.
“In order to be a mediator, one should remain equidistant to the positions of the contracting parties. So far, unfortunately, this is not observed,” he emphasised.
Earlier, Russian leader Vladimir Putin said that it had become clear that the West would only reckon with a sovereign Russia defending its future.
