He said that while the bloc is mulling anti-Russian moves, initiators of such hostile policies should consider whether they are in line with the EU’s interests, reports Xinhua news agency…reports Asian Lite News.
Russia will retaliate against any “unfriendly” moves and hostility from the European Union (EU) but remains ready for an open dialogue based on equality, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
“We will not leave unfriendly moves, including attempts to talk from a position of strength and interference in internal affairs, without a response,” Lavrov said at the opening of a conference on Russian-EU relations here on Monday.
He said that while the bloc is mulling anti-Russian moves, initiators of such hostile policies should consider whether they are in line with the EU’s interests, reports Xinhua news agency.
Lavrov criticised the EU for preferring “ungrounded accusations” to “fact-based dialogue”.
Nevertheless, the Minister said that Russia is interested in conversations with the EU.
“We have repeatedly said that we are open for constructive cooperation with the EU that would be based on the principles of equality and mutual respect,” he added.
According to Lavrov, the two sides could work together to counter international terrorism, combat drug trafficking, curb cybercrimes, preserve strategic stability, address climate change, and fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Russia’s Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said that the country’s national security strategy is being renewed aimed at addressing new threats.
“Political and economic pressure is being used to contain Russia, and attempts are being made to destabilise our socio-political situation, incite and radicalize protests, and erode traditional Russian spiritual and moral values,” Patrushev was quoted as saying to the government’s official newspaper, Rossiyskaya Gazeta on Monday.
On May 28, President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of permanent members of the Security Council to discuss the draft of the new national security strategy.
The current version was adopted in 2015 and should be modified every six years in accordance with law.
According to Patrushev, the updated strategy will be aimed at significantly improving the well-being of the population, strengthening Russia’s defence capabilities, cementing internal unity, and achieving national development goals.
Particular attention is paid to preserving Russia’s nuclear deterrence at a sufficient level, maintaining the combat readiness of the armed forces, and keeping a leading position in the development and production of advanced weapons, he said.
The senior official stressed the importance of including cyber threats in the new version of the strategy.
He said it is necessary to protect Russia’s sovereignty in the cyberspace given foreign attempts to interfere in Russia’s internal affairs through cyber attacks and large-scale disinformation campaigns.
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