Russia has recognized the United States and the Czech Republic as “unfriendly countries”; EU warns of deteriorating relations / Article

Russia has recognized the United States and the Czech Republic as “unfriendly countries.”Uldis Ķezberis00:00 / 00:00

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A list of countries that have implemented “unfriendly actions” against Moscow was published on the Russian government’s website last night. So far, only the United States and the Czech Republic are included.

Being on this list will affect the work of the diplomatic missions of the countries concerned in Russia – they will have limited opportunities to recruit locals.

According to the decision of the Russian government, the Czech diplomatic mission will be able to employ no more than 19 Russians, but the US Embassy will not be able to employ any.

The Czech Foreign Ministry has stated that the Czech Republic’s inclusion in the list of “unfriendly countries” will further worsen Moscow’s relations not only with Prague but also with the European Union (EU). Such actions will indirectly affect the relations between the citizens of the two countries, tourism and the development of business relations, the Czech Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

EU Council President Charles Michel wrote on Twitter last night that the Russian government’s decision was “another step towards escalation”, which would undermine diplomatic relations.

Michel is convinced that Russia’s attempts to divide the EU are in vain and stressed that Brussels expresses its full solidarity with the Czech Republic.

The United States has not yet commented on its inclusion in Russia’s list of “unfriendly countries.”

On April 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order on countermeasures against foreign unfriendly behavior. The order stipulates that embassies and consulates of “unfriendly countries” may be prohibited from hiring Russian citizens.

Maria Zaharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, announced at the end of April that the United States would be included in the list of “countries unfriendly to Russia”.

The Kremlin-controlled media previously reported that the Baltic states, Poland, Britain, Canada, Australia and Ukraine could also be included in the list of “unfriendly countries”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said yesterday that the inclusion of only two countries on Russia’s list of “unfriendly states” “confirms Moscow’s readiness for dialogue,” the TASS news agency reported.

Relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated sharply in recent months due to the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Ukrainian border, the Kremlin’s interference in the US elections and Prague’s accusations that Russian special services had carried out a deadly explosion in an ammunition depot in the Czech Republic in 2014.

Since taking office, US President Joe Biden has stepped up pressure on the Kremlin. He called Putin a “killer” in a television interview, imposed new sanctions on Russia and expelled 10 Russian diplomats from the United States.

At the same time, Washington does not want to completely break the dialogue with Moscow, so the first bilateral meeting between Biden and Putin is being prepared. Its time and possible location are not yet known.

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