Maria Zakharova: relations with the West continue despite restrictions

Russia continues its dialogue with foreign states, including unfriendly ones. This was stated by the Director of the Information and Press Department and Official Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Maria Zakharova, during an open dialogue held as part of the All-Russian seminar for press secretaries in the education sector.

She recalled that Western countries had chosen to entirely freeze relations with the Russian Federation – suspending official contacts, business dialogue and cooperation in numerous areas. According to her, unfriendly states "cut off" opportunities for negotiations and meetings with officials, declared a boycott of embassies, "shut down logistics", banned air travel, imposed visa restrictions and introduced other contradictory measures.

"Yet communication remains essential. Why do we need it? And for what purpose? Firstly, because our citizens and compatriots are there. Secondly, because there are businesses and entrepreneurs who suddenly found themselves in 'firing-squad positions'. This also concerns foreign entrepreneurs who had worked with Russian partners: joint enterprises, representative offices, retail, production, import and export," said Maria Zakharova.

The Official Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that unfriendly countries had instructed their companies to urgently wind down operations in Russia. She stressed that businesses themselves were dissatisfied: they had been performing well and could not understand why they had to leave or what prospects they were offered in exchange. She expressed confidence that these companies had been assured that the withdrawal would be temporary – that after "pressure on Russia" they would return "as victors" and be able to claim high moral ground. Maria Zakharova emphasised that foreign businesses had been misled. She added that if EU companies had understood the real consequences – losses, stagnation, closed borders and the loss of key markets – they would not have taken such a step.

"We still maintain communication with embassies, and there is contact with foreign ministers of several EU states – for example, Hungary among others. You can see this in our official reports. These are isolated contacts within their camp, yet they remain full-scale – at the level of heads of state and at ministerial level. But, again, only with a few of their representatives," said Maria Zakharova.

She explained that Russia certainly maintains contacts with unfriendly states, but such communication takes place under extremely difficult conditions. She noted that normal diplomatic practice simply does not apply in these circumstances: communication through embassies is complicated by numerous obstacles and restrictions, extremely harsh conditions are created for the work of diplomats, and staff themselves face various forms of pressure.