Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov said on Thursday that Moscow’s announcement of its readiness to negotiate on Ukraine did not mean it was open to making concessions or abandoning its positions, while stressing that Russia was not closing the door to dialogue with Western countries.
Moscow sets conditions for readiness to negotiate
Speaking at a press conference, Alimov said: “When we speak of our readiness for negotiations, that does not mean, so to speak, that our diplomacy is inclined to abandon its positions or rush to make concessions.” His remarks clarified the Russian diplomatic position on negotiations and the limits of what expressing readiness for dialogue on Ukraine could mean.
In the same context, the Russian deputy foreign minister discussed his country’s international relations, saying that attempts to impose international isolation on Moscow had failed. He stressed that Russia would continue communicating with other countries, including Western nations, and would not shut itself off from dialogue with them.
Alimov added: “There is no isolation, and there will be no isolation. We have many friends and like-minded people who communicate with us with joy, interest and willingness, and they will continue to do so. We are not shutting ourselves off from dialogue with Western countries.” The Russian official said that some countries leading what he described as campaigns to isolate Russia and directing accusations at it had simultaneously requested to hold meetings away from public view.
Behind-the-scenes meetings with Moscow’s opponents
He said: “Even the countries leading campaigns to isolate Russia and levelling all manner of accusations against us made strenuous efforts behind the scenes to request meetings and take part.” Alimov said the talks also included representatives of countries that adopted difficult positions towards Moscow.
He noted that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held more than 40 bilateral meetings during the week of high-level meetings of the General Assembly, citing this diplomatic activity to affirm the continuation of Russia’s channels of communication with multiple international parties.
