Russia Wants to maintain diplomatic relations with Western countries despite a series of expulsions of its diplomats, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander grushko said on Wednesday.
Several European countries, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy, have expelled a large number of Russian diplomats in recent days.
The move comes amid outrage across Europe over the discovery of mass graves and reports of civilian killings in a Ukrainian city. butch After the retreat of the Russian army, which Moscow calls its “special operation” in Ukraine.
Grushko told Interfax that Russia, which has promised to respond to the expulsion, is assessing the decisions of European countries.
“Yet our position remains exactly the same: We advocate for diplomatic channels to remain open.”
Grushko said European countries obstructing the work of Russian diplomats were harming their own interests and warned against any possible action against the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic coast between Poland and Lithuania.
“I really hope that common sense in Europe will not allow any games to start around Kaliningrad,” TASS quoted him as saying. “I think a lot of people think it’s going to be playing with fire.”
Grushko said Russia has “no contact”. nato,
“There is nothing to discuss with NATO,” TASS quoted him as saying.
Russia sent thousands of troops to Ukraine on February 24 in what it called a special operation to degrade the military capabilities of its southern neighbor and root out dangerous nationalists.
Several European countries, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy, have expelled a large number of Russian diplomats in recent days.
The move comes amid outrage across Europe over the discovery of mass graves and reports of civilian killings in a Ukrainian city. butch After the retreat of the Russian army, which Moscow calls its “special operation” in Ukraine.
Grushko told Interfax that Russia, which has promised to respond to the expulsion, is assessing the decisions of European countries.
“Yet our position remains exactly the same: We advocate for diplomatic channels to remain open.”
Grushko said European countries obstructing the work of Russian diplomats were harming their own interests and warned against any possible action against the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic coast between Poland and Lithuania.
“I really hope that common sense in Europe will not allow any games to start around Kaliningrad,” TASS quoted him as saying. “I think a lot of people think it’s going to be playing with fire.”
Grushko said Russia has “no contact”. nato,
“There is nothing to discuss with NATO,” TASS quoted him as saying.
Russia sent thousands of troops to Ukraine on February 24 in what it called a special operation to degrade the military capabilities of its southern neighbor and root out dangerous nationalists.