The key facts

  • Maria Zakharova said Europe is not ready for an 'honest discussion' of Russia's interests
  • According to her, the new EU Arctic strategy of October 20 enshrines a course of 'containing Russia'
  • Lavrov will attend the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta on October 30–31

Russian Foreign Ministry statements on Europe and the Arctic

On Wednesday, October 28, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Europe is 'still not ready' for an honest discussion of Russia's interests. According to the ministry's official spokesperson Maria Zakharova, the heads of European institutions continue to put forward demands to Moscow that are 'completely detached from reality.' Anadolu reported this.

The EU Arctic strategy and the Ukraine issue

Touching on European security, Zakharova claims that Russia's western neighbors see its essence in continuing arms supplies to the 'Kyiv regime' and preparing for a direct confrontation with Russia in the coming years. In her assessment, there has been no shift in the approach of most EU politicians, and the new EU Arctic strategy published on October 20 indicates Brussels' intention to continue the 'active military development' of the region. She called the document 'devoid of originality and fresh ideas,' saying it enshrines a 'politicized approach' to the polar latitudes, which Brussels views through the lens of escalation and containing Russia.

Ukraine and Lavrov's upcoming visit to Atlanta

In the context of the Ukrainian conflict, which has been going on for more than four years, Zakharova accused Kyiv of attempting to derail the diplomatic efforts of Moscow and Washington to resume consultations on a settlement, and called President Volodymyr Zelensky 'literally obsessed' with continuing the war. These assessments belong to the Russian side and are not an independent statement of fact. Separately, she said that Sergei Lavrov will take part in the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta (Georgia) on October 30–31. According to her, most organizational issues concerning the Russian delegation's participation have been resolved, although due to the proximity of the departure date — 'within the next 24 hours' — they had to be coordinated at the last minute: the delegation has been formed and the formalities are complete.