Russian FM cites global economy shift

In an article for the Razvedchik news magazine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the global economy continues to shift its focus from the Euro-Atlantic region to Eurasia, with politics following suit.

Moscow is prioritizing the development of ties with Eurasian countries, as it no longer has any illusions about being accepted in Europe, or creating a common space with the EU. Lavrov said that Moscow continues to analyze the prospects of participation in international organizations, which are under Western control.

He specifically mentioned the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which he believes has turned into a “fringe agency where the West is accumulating filth and lies.”

Lavrov emphasised that Russia’s relations with the US and EU are currently at their lowest point since the end of the Cold War. The confrontation with the West affects the work of Russian diplomatic missions, which perform their duties in extreme conditions. Lavrov concluded that there will be no business as usual with the West and any hypothetical agreements must be legally binding and include a streamlined mechanism of their verification based on Russia’s interests.