Moscow says US is ‘main instigator’ of anti-Russian policies

Moscow, Mar 31 (EFE).- Russia has identified the United States as the “main instigator” of “anti-Russian” sentiment in the West, according to a foreign policy directive approved by president Vladimir Putin on Friday.

Addressing a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said, “the US and in general the policy of the West have been identified as the main instigators and leaders of the anti-Russian line aimed at totally weakening Russia.”

Lavrov noted “a level of international tensions unprecedented in the last 10 years” and acknowledged “the existential nature of threats to the security and development” of Russia, “created by the actions of unfriendly countries.”

“Anti-Russian steps by unfriendly countries will be consistently and firmly opposed,” the foreign minister warned.

Lavrov noted that the new policy concept includes the possibility of using the Armed Forces to “repel or prevent” an attack against Russia to “defend the right of the Russian people to existence and free development.”

But, he said, the new document does not envisage Russia isolating itself “from Anglo-Saxon countries and continental Europe.”

“We have no hostile intentions by definition against them,” he said.

Lavrov said the new concept of Russian foreign policy states that “the progressive development of international law must take into consideration the current reality.”

“In conditions of acute external threats, our readiness to respect the principle of indivisibility of security is confirmed, but only in relation to those countries and unions that show reciprocity in this regard,” he said.

Therefore, he stressed, “the logic of this document (…) reflects the changing geopolitical realities, the de facto revolutionary developments on the external perimeter which ostensibly accelerated with the beginning of the Russian special military operation” in Ukraine.

Unlike the West, the renewed Russian foreign policy “sets the course towards increasing the potential for strategic partnership with our big neighbors, China, India, Muslim countries and also the countries of Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean,” Lavrov added.

Putin in turn said the new concept was “balanced” during the meeting.

“In practical terms, I call on all colleagues involved in the implementation of a common foreign policy to pay special attention to expanding ties with constructive partners and creating conditions for unfriendly states to abandon their hostile policy towards our country,” he said. EFE

mos/ks