Exclusively for Newsweek:
🇷🇺 🇺🇸 #Article by Anatoly #Antonov about the causes and goals of the special military operation of Russia in Ukraine
📎 https://www.newsweek.com/russias-ambassador-us-reveals-why-ukraine-war-began-how-it-could-end-1696596
🇷🇺 🇺🇸 #Article by Anatoly #Antonov about the causes and goals of the special military operation of Russia in Ukraine
📎 https://www.newsweek.com/russias-ambassador-us-reveals-why-ukraine-war-began-how-it-could-end-1696596
🇷🇺 🇺🇸 #Article by Anatoly #Antonov about the causes and goals of the special military operation of Russia in Ukraine
– The special operation in Ukraine is the result of the unwillingness of the Kiev regime to stop the genocide of Russians by fulfilling its obligations under the international commitments. The desire of the NATO member states to use the territory of a neighboring state to establish a foothold in the struggle against Russia is also obvious. –
Eight years ago, we witnessed tragic events in the center of the Ukrainian capital. As a result of the bloody coup d'état instigated by the West, forces drawing on ultranationalist ideas came to power in Kiev. From the first days of their rule, the putschists unleashed a wide-ranging campaign against the Russian language and culture, which are native for tens of millions of people in Ukraine. And so the aggressive imposition of a new ideology was started – they proclaimed as national heroes of the country that defeated fascism Nazi accomplices Stepan Bandera, Roman Shukhevych and others (the facts of their crimes were documented and condemned at the Nuremberg trials).
De facto, such a policy has taken root in Ukraine under external administration. It got to the point that foreign citizens were appointed to key posts in Kiev. This situation led to the strengthening of the already pronounced anti-Russian line.
One of the first decisions of the new government was to revoke the status of Russian as a state language. The persecution of the opposition media and large-scale harassment of dissidents began. Extrajudicial reprisals against political opponents have become a norm of life. On May 2, 2014, a tragedy, unprecedented in its cruelty, happened in Odessa. Russian-speaking supporters of the federalization of Ukraine, who had taken refuge from Nazi youths in an administrative building, were burnt alive. Forty-eight people died in a fire. The perpetrators have not been found and punished thus far.
Aggressive Russophobia reached its peak when an attempt was made to forcefully suppress the uprising of people’s militia in Donbass against the Kiev junta’s crimes. The military campaign, which the Ukrainian authorities orchestrated to target their own citizens, has been carried out since April 2014 and has already claimed lives of more than fourteen thousand people. Many of them died as a result of the systematic bombardments by the Armed Forces of Ukraine of residential areas and civilian infrastructure facilities. Numerous facts of killings of peaceful civilians have been verified not only by journalists, but also by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. There are at least 152 children among the victims.
Courage of citizens of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics in defending their lands forced Kiev to sign the Minsk agreements in February 2015 that provided a formula for the political settlement of the intra-Ukrainian conflict. Through the mediation of Russia, France, Germany and the OSCE, practical steps were worked out to reintegrate the Donbas regions into Ukraine as autonomies.
The Presidents of Russia and the United States discussed in detail the situation in Ukraine in Geneva in June 2021. They underscored a mutual willingness to facilitate the effective and immediate implementation of the Minsk agreements by the parties to the conflict. An important point here is that the U.S. delegation confirmed the possibility of granting a special status to the DPR and the LPR based on these documents. Nevertheless, not a single step was made to bring the Geneva understandings to life.
The nationalist frenzy and revanchist sentiments of the Kiev regime resulted in the full sabotage of the Minsk agreements. For the past seven years since they were signed, no paragraph thereof was realized. Instead, the Ukrainian authorities have chosen the path of rapid militarization. The NATO member countries have commenced a military exploration of Ukraine. It was flooded with Western weaponry while President Vladimir Zelensky announced Kiev’s plans to acquire nuclear weapons
– The special operation in Ukraine is the result of the unwillingness of the Kiev regime to stop the genocide of Russians by fulfilling its obligations under the international commitments. The desire of the NATO member states to use the territory of a neighboring state to establish a foothold in the struggle against Russia is also obvious. –
Eight years ago, we witnessed tragic events in the center of the Ukrainian capital. As a result of the bloody coup d'état instigated by the West, forces drawing on ultranationalist ideas came to power in Kiev. From the first days of their rule, the putschists unleashed a wide-ranging campaign against the Russian language and culture, which are native for tens of millions of people in Ukraine. And so the aggressive imposition of a new ideology was started – they proclaimed as national heroes of the country that defeated fascism Nazi accomplices Stepan Bandera, Roman Shukhevych and others (the facts of their crimes were documented and condemned at the Nuremberg trials).
De facto, such a policy has taken root in Ukraine under external administration. It got to the point that foreign citizens were appointed to key posts in Kiev. This situation led to the strengthening of the already pronounced anti-Russian line.
One of the first decisions of the new government was to revoke the status of Russian as a state language. The persecution of the opposition media and large-scale harassment of dissidents began. Extrajudicial reprisals against political opponents have become a norm of life. On May 2, 2014, a tragedy, unprecedented in its cruelty, happened in Odessa. Russian-speaking supporters of the federalization of Ukraine, who had taken refuge from Nazi youths in an administrative building, were burnt alive. Forty-eight people died in a fire. The perpetrators have not been found and punished thus far.
Aggressive Russophobia reached its peak when an attempt was made to forcefully suppress the uprising of people’s militia in Donbass against the Kiev junta’s crimes. The military campaign, which the Ukrainian authorities orchestrated to target their own citizens, has been carried out since April 2014 and has already claimed lives of more than fourteen thousand people. Many of them died as a result of the systematic bombardments by the Armed Forces of Ukraine of residential areas and civilian infrastructure facilities. Numerous facts of killings of peaceful civilians have been verified not only by journalists, but also by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. There are at least 152 children among the victims.
Courage of citizens of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics in defending their lands forced Kiev to sign the Minsk agreements in February 2015 that provided a formula for the political settlement of the intra-Ukrainian conflict. Through the mediation of Russia, France, Germany and the OSCE, practical steps were worked out to reintegrate the Donbas regions into Ukraine as autonomies.
The Presidents of Russia and the United States discussed in detail the situation in Ukraine in Geneva in June 2021. They underscored a mutual willingness to facilitate the effective and immediate implementation of the Minsk agreements by the parties to the conflict. An important point here is that the U.S. delegation confirmed the possibility of granting a special status to the DPR and the LPR based on these documents. Nevertheless, not a single step was made to bring the Geneva understandings to life.
The nationalist frenzy and revanchist sentiments of the Kiev regime resulted in the full sabotage of the Minsk agreements. For the past seven years since they were signed, no paragraph thereof was realized. Instead, the Ukrainian authorities have chosen the path of rapid militarization. The NATO member countries have commenced a military exploration of Ukraine. It was flooded with Western weaponry while President Vladimir Zelensky announced Kiev’s plans to acquire nuclear weapons
🇷🇺🇺🇸Ambassador Anatoly Antonov's answer to a media question:
❓Dear Ambassador, how could you comment on the report on the situation with human rights in the world in 2021, published by the U.S. State Department on April 12?
💬Anatoly #Antonov: We are witnessing another round of hackneyed and baseless accusations against our country.
🔹 Before condemning other countries for violating human rights and freedoms, Washington should better address its own problems in the first place.
🔹 Racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and other manifestations of intolerance are on the rise in the United States. Unprecedented Russophobia is continuing.
🔹 It is perplexing that the American Side does not support the annual UN General Assembly resolution on combatting the glorification of Nazism.
🔹 The inhumane policy of local authorities against immigrants is of a serious concern.
🔹 Washington hushes up the cases of torture and brutal treatment of prisoners in the Guantanamo Bay special prison.
🔹 And these are far from all the concerns that the international community could raise with respect to the human rights situation in the United States.
🔹 It is clear to us that the propaganda opuses of the State Department are aimed at demonizing political systems of undesirable countries and creating a pretext for interfering in their internal affairs.
❓Dear Ambassador, how could you comment on the report on the situation with human rights in the world in 2021, published by the U.S. State Department on April 12?
💬Anatoly #Antonov: We are witnessing another round of hackneyed and baseless accusations against our country.
🔹 Before condemning other countries for violating human rights and freedoms, Washington should better address its own problems in the first place.
🔹 Racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and other manifestations of intolerance are on the rise in the United States. Unprecedented Russophobia is continuing.
🔹 It is perplexing that the American Side does not support the annual UN General Assembly resolution on combatting the glorification of Nazism.
🔹 The inhumane policy of local authorities against immigrants is of a serious concern.
🔹 Washington hushes up the cases of torture and brutal treatment of prisoners in the Guantanamo Bay special prison.
🔹 And these are far from all the concerns that the international community could raise with respect to the human rights situation in the United States.
🔹 It is clear to us that the propaganda opuses of the State Department are aimed at demonizing political systems of undesirable countries and creating a pretext for interfering in their internal affairs.
✍️"A Russian Perspective on the Food Crisis" article by Ambassador Anatoly #Antonov specially for The National Interest:
🔗 https://nationalinterest.org/feature/russian-perspective-food-crisis-203055
💬 If Washington really wants to improve the situation in the global agricultural market, let us cooperate.
Russia has become a target for accusations that have nothing to do with reality. Our country is being imputed with trying to take steps aimed at deliberately degrading global food security, preventing Ukrainian agricultural exports by sea, and blocking the sowing campaign in that country. It’s time to put an end to these speculations. <...>
🔗 https://nationalinterest.org/feature/russian-perspective-food-crisis-203055
💬 If Washington really wants to improve the situation in the global agricultural market, let us cooperate.
Russia has become a target for accusations that have nothing to do with reality. Our country is being imputed with trying to take steps aimed at deliberately degrading global food security, preventing Ukrainian agricultural exports by sea, and blocking the sowing campaign in that country. It’s time to put an end to these speculations. <...>
🇷🇺🇺🇸Ambassador Anatoly Antonov's answer to a media question:
❓: Dear Ambassador, how would you comment on the imposition of the new sanctions against Russian citizens and organizations on August 2?
💬 Anatoly #Antonov: The "sanctions machine" initiated by Washington continues to "stamp out" restrictions against Russian business in an attempt to crowd Russia out from global markets. To take the vacant positions at the expense of banal blackmail, and not fair competition. Moreover, many sanctions are duplicated. Apparently, the bureaucracy can't come up with anything new anymore.
🔹Questions arise about the announced measures against Russian entrepreneurs and companies associated with the production of metal products and fertilizers. Despite numerous assurances from the US Treasury Department about the withdrawal of such goods, primarily agricultural raw materials, from restrictions, banks, insurers as well as transport and logistics firms refuse to work with Russian enterprises. Confirmation of the legality of such transactions by international organizations does not always help.
🔹Such "diligence" of the American authorities further undermines global markets, which are already suffering from significant supply chain disruptions. Hence the risks of further price increases and problems with obtaining the necessary products. The most painful damage will be inflicted on developing countries.
🔹No matter how hard our opponents try, it will not work to isolate Russia. We have established ourselves as a responsible, reliable supplier interested in maintaining strong mutually beneficial trade relations with foreign partners.
❓: Dear Ambassador, how would you comment on the imposition of the new sanctions against Russian citizens and organizations on August 2?
💬 Anatoly #Antonov: The "sanctions machine" initiated by Washington continues to "stamp out" restrictions against Russian business in an attempt to crowd Russia out from global markets. To take the vacant positions at the expense of banal blackmail, and not fair competition. Moreover, many sanctions are duplicated. Apparently, the bureaucracy can't come up with anything new anymore.
🔹Questions arise about the announced measures against Russian entrepreneurs and companies associated with the production of metal products and fertilizers. Despite numerous assurances from the US Treasury Department about the withdrawal of such goods, primarily agricultural raw materials, from restrictions, banks, insurers as well as transport and logistics firms refuse to work with Russian enterprises. Confirmation of the legality of such transactions by international organizations does not always help.
🔹Such "diligence" of the American authorities further undermines global markets, which are already suffering from significant supply chain disruptions. Hence the risks of further price increases and problems with obtaining the necessary products. The most painful damage will be inflicted on developing countries.
🔹No matter how hard our opponents try, it will not work to isolate Russia. We have established ourselves as a responsible, reliable supplier interested in maintaining strong mutually beneficial trade relations with foreign partners.
🇷🇺🇺🇸 Ambassador Anatoly Antonov's answer to a media question:
❓: Dear Ambassador, how could you comment on the new statements by the head of the US Agency for International Development Samantha Power about Russia's role in the global food crisis?
💬 Anatoly #Antonov: Attempts to shift all responsibility to Russia are absurd. As always - a lot of lies here. Statements are unprofessional, without proper analysis and understanding of the situation, or there is absence of desire to understand the essence of the problem.
🔹The current situation with the shortage of agricultural products has developed due to a number of factors. These are the consequences of the pandemic, disruptions in supply chains, inflation, accelerated urbanization, accumulated soil fatigue, climate change.
🔹A separate place in this row takes the "array" of illegal anti-Russian sanctions. The restrictions are deliberately designed to confuse and intimidate foreign companies and complicate their cooperation with Russian enterprises as much as possible.
🔹Despite this, our country continues to make efforts to strengthen food security. Since 2003, we have been making contributions to the fund of the UN World Food Program. We act as a reliable and responsible supplier of products to the world agricultural market. We are actively working with foreign colleagues. During Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's recent tour to African countries, our partners confirmed the rich, mutually beneficial and fruitful nature of the meetings. Let me remind you, we are talking about such states as Egypt, the Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Ethiopia.
🔹Washington, it seems, could not come to terms with its absence among the participants of the quadrilateral initiative on the safe transportation of grain and food from the ports of Ukraine of July 22. It is significant that American officials generally prefer not to talk about the signing of a memorandum between Russia and the United Nations on the same day to promote the export of Russian agricultural products.
🔹For our part, we can only welcome the resumption of agricultural shipments across the Black Sea. We hope that the Ukrainian side and its curators in the West will not try to undermine this process as well as they will stop pretending to be "saints" when it comes to prioritizing supplies to starving developing countries. After all, as far as we know, two of the three dry cargo ships that left Ukrainian harbors this morning are heading to Europe.
❓: Dear Ambassador, how could you comment on the new statements by the head of the US Agency for International Development Samantha Power about Russia's role in the global food crisis?
💬 Anatoly #Antonov: Attempts to shift all responsibility to Russia are absurd. As always - a lot of lies here. Statements are unprofessional, without proper analysis and understanding of the situation, or there is absence of desire to understand the essence of the problem.
🔹The current situation with the shortage of agricultural products has developed due to a number of factors. These are the consequences of the pandemic, disruptions in supply chains, inflation, accelerated urbanization, accumulated soil fatigue, climate change.
🔹A separate place in this row takes the "array" of illegal anti-Russian sanctions. The restrictions are deliberately designed to confuse and intimidate foreign companies and complicate their cooperation with Russian enterprises as much as possible.
🔹Despite this, our country continues to make efforts to strengthen food security. Since 2003, we have been making contributions to the fund of the UN World Food Program. We act as a reliable and responsible supplier of products to the world agricultural market. We are actively working with foreign colleagues. During Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's recent tour to African countries, our partners confirmed the rich, mutually beneficial and fruitful nature of the meetings. Let me remind you, we are talking about such states as Egypt, the Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Ethiopia.
🔹Washington, it seems, could not come to terms with its absence among the participants of the quadrilateral initiative on the safe transportation of grain and food from the ports of Ukraine of July 22. It is significant that American officials generally prefer not to talk about the signing of a memorandum between Russia and the United Nations on the same day to promote the export of Russian agricultural products.
🔹For our part, we can only welcome the resumption of agricultural shipments across the Black Sea. We hope that the Ukrainian side and its curators in the West will not try to undermine this process as well as they will stop pretending to be "saints" when it comes to prioritizing supplies to starving developing countries. After all, as far as we know, two of the three dry cargo ships that left Ukrainian harbors this morning are heading to Europe.
🇷🇺🇺🇸 Ambassador Anatoly Antonov's answer to a media question:
❓: Dear Ambassador, how could you comment on the administration's decision on the new "package" of military assistance to Ukraine?
💬 Anatoly #Antonov: Washington continues to "add fuel to the fire" of the Ukrainian conflict. The allocation of an additional 1 billion dollars for these purposes confirms that the United States does not intend to listen to reason and is not going to contribute to a peaceful settlement of the crisis.
🔹Against this background, the statements of the administration representatives that the supply of defense products will strengthen Kiev's position at the "probable" negotiating table look especially cynical. It is unclear how one can, in principle, talk about dialogue in conditions when the only goal of the United States is to prolong the conflict as much as possible.
🔹Washington's short-sighted steps create an illusion among unscrupulous figures in Kiev about the possibility of "exhausting" Russia and winning on the battlefield. As a result, the number of victims of the adventurous policy of the ruling class of Ukraine is growing.
🔹The United States of America is increasingly drawn into the conflict, approaching a dangerous line in the confrontation with the Russian Federation. Such an approach will not do anything good for peace and security. It will only prolong the agony of the Ukrainian regime.
🔹We state that the unrestrained pumping of Ukraine with weapons is increasingly causing concern in the United States itself. American experts, columnists of leading publications and ordinary citizens are wondering: how much help reaches its destination? There is a lot of evidence of fraudulent schemes during the transportation of defense products. This proves that it is becoming more difficult to hush up the pernicious aspects of military assistance to Kiev.
🔹However, some of the American weapons still end up on the front line. Zelensky's militants carry out deadly strikes on residential areas of Donbass cities on a daily basis. And now they are also exposing whole Europe to extreme danger by attacking the Zaporozhye NPP. We hope that these facts will open the eyes of US citizens as soon as possible and they will understand whom exactly their country supports.
🔹Developing countries are watching Washington's policy in the Ukrainian direction with surprise and incomprehension. They ask a fair question: is it really so easy to throw into the void billions of dollars that could be spent on the economic and social demands of Latin America, Africa and Asia. Especially in the post-covid period, when these regions most urgently need the funds and assistance from the leading economies of the world.
❓: Dear Ambassador, how could you comment on the administration's decision on the new "package" of military assistance to Ukraine?
💬 Anatoly #Antonov: Washington continues to "add fuel to the fire" of the Ukrainian conflict. The allocation of an additional 1 billion dollars for these purposes confirms that the United States does not intend to listen to reason and is not going to contribute to a peaceful settlement of the crisis.
🔹Against this background, the statements of the administration representatives that the supply of defense products will strengthen Kiev's position at the "probable" negotiating table look especially cynical. It is unclear how one can, in principle, talk about dialogue in conditions when the only goal of the United States is to prolong the conflict as much as possible.
🔹Washington's short-sighted steps create an illusion among unscrupulous figures in Kiev about the possibility of "exhausting" Russia and winning on the battlefield. As a result, the number of victims of the adventurous policy of the ruling class of Ukraine is growing.
🔹The United States of America is increasingly drawn into the conflict, approaching a dangerous line in the confrontation with the Russian Federation. Such an approach will not do anything good for peace and security. It will only prolong the agony of the Ukrainian regime.
🔹We state that the unrestrained pumping of Ukraine with weapons is increasingly causing concern in the United States itself. American experts, columnists of leading publications and ordinary citizens are wondering: how much help reaches its destination? There is a lot of evidence of fraudulent schemes during the transportation of defense products. This proves that it is becoming more difficult to hush up the pernicious aspects of military assistance to Kiev.
🔹However, some of the American weapons still end up on the front line. Zelensky's militants carry out deadly strikes on residential areas of Donbass cities on a daily basis. And now they are also exposing whole Europe to extreme danger by attacking the Zaporozhye NPP. We hope that these facts will open the eyes of US citizens as soon as possible and they will understand whom exactly their country supports.
🔹Developing countries are watching Washington's policy in the Ukrainian direction with surprise and incomprehension. They ask a fair question: is it really so easy to throw into the void billions of dollars that could be spent on the economic and social demands of Latin America, Africa and Asia. Especially in the post-covid period, when these regions most urgently need the funds and assistance from the leading economies of the world.
🇷🇺🇺🇸 Ambassador Anatoly Antonov's answer to a media question:
❓: Dear Ambassador, how would you comment on the intention of the State Department to assist Ukraine in demining its territories? It was announced that the US side is allocating $89 million for these purposes.
💬 Anatoly #Antonov: The wordings used by the State Department in the preparation of the statement are fundamental. Washington unfairly holds us responsible for mining the territory of the Republic. In the Russophobic campaign, the Americans surpassed themselves by comparing the actions of the Russian Armed Forces with the tactics of ISIS in Syria. We were accused, among other things, of blocking access to farmland.
🔹We strongly reject these insinuations. During the negotiations on grain exports, the international community has already made sure that the Ukrainians themselves mined the coastal waters of the Black Sea. This practice extends to numerous social and infrastructure facilities. In particular, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are installing explosive devices on the territory of schools and kindergartens, literally dotting forests and fields with mines in various directions. By the way, some of the ammunition (for example, Claymore and C-4) is supplied from the USA.
🔹Ukrainian terrorists are firing shells equipped with Butterfly anti-personnel high explosive mines (PFM-1) at the cities of Donbass. More than 30 people, including children and elderly people, have already been blown up on them. Such actions clearly demonstrate the attitude of the Zelensky regime towards the population of those lands that Kiev would like to consider its own.
🔹As for farmland, there is evidence of repeated targeted arson of crops by Ukrainian formations. Even helicopters are used for this, scattering heat traps.
🔹All this proves that the real situation is the exact opposite of what the State Department states. However, this does not stop the organizers of the disinformation campaign against Russia. They do not stop attributing to us the deeds of the thugs from Kiev. The time has long come to truthfully show the crimes of the Kiev regime to the world, calling it to account for atrocities, primarily against its population.
❓: Dear Ambassador, how would you comment on the intention of the State Department to assist Ukraine in demining its territories? It was announced that the US side is allocating $89 million for these purposes.
💬 Anatoly #Antonov: The wordings used by the State Department in the preparation of the statement are fundamental. Washington unfairly holds us responsible for mining the territory of the Republic. In the Russophobic campaign, the Americans surpassed themselves by comparing the actions of the Russian Armed Forces with the tactics of ISIS in Syria. We were accused, among other things, of blocking access to farmland.
🔹We strongly reject these insinuations. During the negotiations on grain exports, the international community has already made sure that the Ukrainians themselves mined the coastal waters of the Black Sea. This practice extends to numerous social and infrastructure facilities. In particular, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are installing explosive devices on the territory of schools and kindergartens, literally dotting forests and fields with mines in various directions. By the way, some of the ammunition (for example, Claymore and C-4) is supplied from the USA.
🔹Ukrainian terrorists are firing shells equipped with Butterfly anti-personnel high explosive mines (PFM-1) at the cities of Donbass. More than 30 people, including children and elderly people, have already been blown up on them. Such actions clearly demonstrate the attitude of the Zelensky regime towards the population of those lands that Kiev would like to consider its own.
🔹As for farmland, there is evidence of repeated targeted arson of crops by Ukrainian formations. Even helicopters are used for this, scattering heat traps.
🔹All this proves that the real situation is the exact opposite of what the State Department states. However, this does not stop the organizers of the disinformation campaign against Russia. They do not stop attributing to us the deeds of the thugs from Kiev. The time has long come to truthfully show the crimes of the Kiev regime to the world, calling it to account for atrocities, primarily against its population.
🇷🇺🇺🇸 Ambassador Anatoly Antonov's answer to a media question:
❓: How could you comment on the recent State Department publications aimed at “debunking myths” of the resilience of Russia’s economy to the western sanctions?
💬 Anatoly #Antonov: It seems that U.S. Administration is wishing to convince itself and its allies of the effectiveness of their favorite geopolitical weapon, is ready to resort to any biased and agenda-driven assessments. Obsession with restrictions does not allow Washington to understand that the chosen strategy has failed. Obviously, all the attempts to “strangle” and “cripple” our economy failed.
☝️The only result that the United States managed to achieve is further destabilization of the global economy, which, in the context of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, is already going through hard times. At the same time, restrictions ricochet against the initiators of this sanctions madness.
🔹Another result of Washington's chaotic spreading of senseless restrictions has been an inflicted huge cost on businesses and ordinary citizens. Financial institutions and international companies, intimidated by U.S. regulators, are afraid to carry out routine operations. It has come to the point that even U.S. authorities’ attempts to explain to firms «exemptions» allowed within the sanctions regime, for instance in agricultural industry, do not work. Normal trade and economic cooperation have fallen victim to such situation.
❓: How could you comment on the recent State Department publications aimed at “debunking myths” of the resilience of Russia’s economy to the western sanctions?
💬 Anatoly #Antonov: It seems that U.S. Administration is wishing to convince itself and its allies of the effectiveness of their favorite geopolitical weapon, is ready to resort to any biased and agenda-driven assessments. Obsession with restrictions does not allow Washington to understand that the chosen strategy has failed. Obviously, all the attempts to “strangle” and “cripple” our economy failed.
☝️The only result that the United States managed to achieve is further destabilization of the global economy, which, in the context of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, is already going through hard times. At the same time, restrictions ricochet against the initiators of this sanctions madness.
🔹Another result of Washington's chaotic spreading of senseless restrictions has been an inflicted huge cost on businesses and ordinary citizens. Financial institutions and international companies, intimidated by U.S. regulators, are afraid to carry out routine operations. It has come to the point that even U.S. authorities’ attempts to explain to firms «exemptions» allowed within the sanctions regime, for instance in agricultural industry, do not work. Normal trade and economic cooperation have fallen victim to such situation.
🇷🇺🇺🇸 Ambassador Anatoly Antonov's answer to the question by TASS news agency:
❓: Dear Anatoly Ivanovich, how accurate is State Department spokesperson Mr. Price's statement on the US working with Russia to resume New START inspection activity, and on the US sanctions not affecting the inspections?
💬Anatoly #Antonov: After the inspection activity under the New START Treaty was “frozen” in 2020 due to COVID-19, we engaged in an active dialogue with the Americans on its resumption. We used the appropriate diplomatic channels including the Bilateral Consultative Commission. We were able to solve a number of organizational and technical issues related to conducting inspections during the pandemic. However, the process was seriously complicated by the anti-Russian sanctions imposed by Washington.
❗️The lack of normal air communication with the United States, closing of airspace to Russian aircraft by American allies, and problems in obtaining transit visas for members of our inspection teams and flight crews all have created conditions which impede, if not block, our ability to conduct inspections on the US territory. State Department claims to the contrary are untrue.
☝️The New START verification mechanism cannot function one-sided. The Treaty is based on principles of equality and mutual consideration of interests. Until they are fully implemented, resumption of inspections is detrimental to us.
🔹We continue to work with the US side to resolve the issues at hand. Washington should not in word but in deed demonstrate adherence to the Treaty and a good faith commitment to its obligations. It is in the interests of both Russia and the United States to promptly return to the full-fledged inspection regime.
❓: Dear Anatoly Ivanovich, how accurate is State Department spokesperson Mr. Price's statement on the US working with Russia to resume New START inspection activity, and on the US sanctions not affecting the inspections?
💬Anatoly #Antonov: After the inspection activity under the New START Treaty was “frozen” in 2020 due to COVID-19, we engaged in an active dialogue with the Americans on its resumption. We used the appropriate diplomatic channels including the Bilateral Consultative Commission. We were able to solve a number of organizational and technical issues related to conducting inspections during the pandemic. However, the process was seriously complicated by the anti-Russian sanctions imposed by Washington.
❗️The lack of normal air communication with the United States, closing of airspace to Russian aircraft by American allies, and problems in obtaining transit visas for members of our inspection teams and flight crews all have created conditions which impede, if not block, our ability to conduct inspections on the US territory. State Department claims to the contrary are untrue.
☝️The New START verification mechanism cannot function one-sided. The Treaty is based on principles of equality and mutual consideration of interests. Until they are fully implemented, resumption of inspections is detrimental to us.
🔹We continue to work with the US side to resolve the issues at hand. Washington should not in word but in deed demonstrate adherence to the Treaty and a good faith commitment to its obligations. It is in the interests of both Russia and the United States to promptly return to the full-fledged inspection regime.