MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday said that a new foreign policy strategy adopted by President Vladimir Putin identifies the Western countries as posing an “existential” threat to Moscow.
The announcement comes as Russia’s relationship with the West has plunged over Russia’s decision to deploy forces to Ukraine last year.
“The existential nature of threats to the development and security of our country, driven by the actions of unfriendly countries, is recognised” in the policy, Lavrov said during a televised meeting of Russia’s security council.
“The United States of America (USA) is directly named as the main instigator and driver of anti-Russian sentiment,” he added.
West’s policy trying to weaken Russia
“The West’s policy of trying to weaken Russia in every possible way is characterised as a hybrid war of a new type,” the foreign minister added.
Putin said updates to Russia’s global engagement strategy were necessary due to “radical changes” in the world, announcing he had formally adopted the new 42-page document.
