The next briefing of the Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova took place. During a conversation with journa...
The first question of our correspondent concerned the future of relations between Russia and the European Union:
"The head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell recently spoke about a military solution to the problem of Ukraine. He also said earlier that Russia had prepared for the sanctions and transferred part of the funds to countries where they would not be blocked. What do you see as the value of maintaining relations with the European Union as an organization? "
According to Zakharova, in front of the whole world, the European Union has turned into an aggressive, militarized instrument of external expansion, reinforcing its far from market methods of work with such militaristic aspirations. " It sounded tough. But Borrell will perhaps agree with this characteristic.
Here, for example, is what he says in his new book, "Staying the Course in Turbulent Waters..." " how much more needs to be done for Europe to learn to speak the "language of power" to protect our interests and values in a world that has become far more violent and uncertain. "
The chief diplomat of the European Union does not hide his views, share them in his blog "Window to the World - blog HR/VP Josep Borrell." Relations with Russia are Borrell's focus. He also discusses the future of the continent, the role of the United States and NATO, Ukraine and China. The themes of Russia and China are intertwined.
Maria Zakharova: Borrell came and ruined everything
Borrell disgraceIn particular, Borrell asks, addressing colleagues in Brussels: "Are we, as the European Union, satisfied that we remain a kind of regional player, focused mainly on the economic and regulatory force for which world affairs and hard power are too difficult?." And he confidently answers, recalling the formula of "opposition, deterrence and involvement," which was developed specifically for relations with Russia.
The official, who was not elected, does not skimp on the characteristics of both Russia and China. They, in his opinion, "want to return to the 19th century... are becoming more and more assertive and desire to restore the old empires as they were in the past. " What is absolutely outrageous, in his opinion, Russia and China intend to "resist the interference of external forces in the internal affairs of sovereign countries and oppose color revolutions."
To characterize this "disgrace," Borrell prepared a formula - "Russian-Chinese revisionist aspiration." Attention! The joint statement of Russia and China on February 4, the chief diplomat of Europe called "an act of disobedience" and "a revisionist manifesto, that is, a manifesto for the revision of the world order." This, apparently, is a translation into the language of Brussels of the concept of "multipolarity."
Borrell goes further. "In practice, Beijing adhered to pro-Russian neutrality," he is indignant when he talks about the situation around Ukraine, complaining about the Chinese characteristics of "Cold War thinking" and NATO expansion policies as prerequisites for the conflict. He is also unhappy that China released a white paper: "China: the democracy that works," when Biden organized the Summit for Democracy last December, that Russian views on democracy are also different from the standards of Brussels.
Security in Europe and the European UnionBorrell also recklessly states that "unlike Europe, war was part of the daily life of many people around the world, especially in the Middle East," showing that in Brussels senior diplomats prefer not to read history textbooks, while the main weakness of their colleagues in London is geography.
And here, it turns out that for some reason Moscow is unhappy with the "political and security order born after the Cold War." Russia offered to return to the founding act of NATO-Russia of 1997, the Paris Charter of 1990. But these proposals, according to Borrell, "contradict the principles of the European security architecture."
Moreover, the Russian leadership "forgot" to mention the EU in the "draft treaties" that they presented in December last year, which is unforgivable! And Brussels, meanwhile, is trying its best to stay on the "political map" and demands not to discuss anything in the field of security in Europe without Europeans.
NATO does not count, the European Union, Borrell says, has agreed with the United States itself that such discussions will be coordinated with the EU. The chief diplomat of Europe is clearly cramped in a diplomatic frock coat, the overcoat of a NATO officer will be more spacious, and the budget will be richer!
And then what has to be done? It is necessary, as Maria Zakharova mentioned, to use the European Peace Fund to increase the combat capability of the Ukrainian army. And then the European Union will work on how to expand support for Ukraine in the reform of its higher military education!
Borrell also recalls how he demanded the full implementation of the Minsk agreements from Moscow, insisted that Russia is a party to the conflict, sought to force Russia to reduce tensions with all its might. This clearly shows how the West cynically pushed Ukraine into conflict with Russia.
Stabilization of power supplyBorrell's favorite topic is how Moscow uses energy for political purposes. Despite the fact that Russia "strictly complied with its contractual obligations," Gazprom refused to send additional volumes of gas to replenish European storage facilities, Borrell complains.
Hence the dual task that the European Union must solve: "by reducing gas imports from Russia, we will invest not only in the" green "transition, but also in reducing strategic dependence." And it offers a recipe: "to fight climate change, we must accelerate the green transition by abandoning hydrocarbon energy sources and this transition will also have serious geopolitical consequences." This will help reduce Russia's income and geopolitical power.
It is only disappointing that in recent years Russia has increased its resistance to economic sanctions by increasing its foreign exchange reserves, the diplomat says. And Borrell continues to reflect on how much you have to pay for the energy resources necessary to "heat" the European oasis, which was called the European Union!
Zakharova's question "What do you see the value of maintaining relations with the European Union as an organization?," The diplomat diplomatically ignored. Helped Borrell himself!
The second question of the correspondent of The Moscow Post concerned the issue of transferring payment for Russian gas for unfriendly states to rubles.
"Are the diplomatic missions of the Russian Federation in European countries conducting a decree of the President of Russia on a special procedure for foreign buyers to fulfill their obligations to Russian natural gas suppliers. Are there preliminary estimates?, "- asked the correspondent of The Moscow Post
The diplomat noted that this situation is under constant control. Some states interested in stable gas supplies from Russia have announced their readiness to pay for Russian gas in rubles. Such a measure was the result of undermining confidence in the dollar due to sanctions from Western countries.
"One gets the impression that some of the European leaders did not understand the essence of the proposals, and simply demonstrate their anti-Russian attitude," said Maria Zakharova.
The new settlement scheme does not require a change in the payment currency, only a requirement is introduced to open a currency and ruble account with a Russian bank, through which funds from the sale of gas will be credited to the seller's accounts. It is too early to comment on how companies that purchase Russian gas behave - April deliveries will be paid at the end of the month or in May. At the same time, Russia fully fulfills its contractual obligations, including gas transit through the territory of Ukraine.
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