Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday that Russia “misses the point” in maintaining the same diplomatic presence in the West, stating that Moscow will now focus on Asia and Africa.
Useless
“It makes no sense and no will, of course, to maintain the same presence in Western countries,” Lavrov said during a meeting with young graduates recently appointed by the Russian Foreign Ministry, adding that “the developing countries of Asia and the ‘Africa, on the contrary, need more attention. ””.
He added that Russian diplomats work there “in conditions that are difficult to describe as humanitarian, problems are constantly created for them through threats”.
“What do we do?”
“But the most important thing is that there is no business there since Europe has decided to close us and suspend any economic cooperation” with Moscow, he added.
“What should we do? We cannot force others to be friendly to us,” he asked, noting that “developing countries in Asia and Africa, on the contrary, need more attention,” noting that Russia has many projects there, especially commercial: “Requires diplomatic escort”.
The center of gravity in these countries
While Lavrov concluded that “under these conditions, of course, we will place the center of gravity in those countries that are ready to act on the basis of equality and cooperate with us on the basis of mutual benefit”.
Interestingly, several Western countries, such as the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria, have expelled a large number of Russian diplomats since the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine on February 24.
