Vladimir Putin: Sweden’s accession to NATO raises questions

Vladimir Putin speaking at the ceremony of presentation of credentials of the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors of 21 foreign states in the Alexander Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace. Photo: Pavel Bednyakov/POOL/TASS

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted the credentials of 21 new ambassadors. As is tradition, the President briefly evaluated Russia’s relations with each country. Hostile states received the brightest reviews:

– For more than half a century we have been able to develop pragmatic and business cooperation with Germany. Our country has been supplying Germany with environmentally friendly diesel, oil and other energy products at reasonable prices for decades. And this cooperation was literally undermined, including by the sabotage in Nord Streams,” lamented the president.

“Stockholm’s refusal to follow a two-hundred-year policy of non-participation in military blocs cannot but raise questions,” the head of the country said about Sweden’s accession to NATO.

– The current situation of the dialogue with London is well known. Let us hope that the situation will change for the better in the interests of our two countries and peoples,” Vladimir Vladimirovich stressed.

Photo: Vyacheslav Prokofiev/TASS

As is customary in meetings with ambassadors, Putin also outlined Russia’s own future policy. At the outset, he said diplomats now have to work “in a very difficult period” when “crises are growing” and long-standing conflicts are intensifying. In Palestine everything ended in a humanitarian catastrophe.

“We have pursued and continue to pursue an independent, coherent and principled foreign policy, we are open to constructive partnerships with all countries without exception and we do not accept confrontation en bloc or any measure that goes against the UN Charter,” he said. the head of the country. he emphasized.

Complete list of countries whose representatives participated in the ceremony:

Australia

Algeria

Britain

Burundi

Gambia

Germany

Greece

Dominican Republic

Kazakhstan

Kuwait

Luxembourg

Pakistan

Mauritania

Mali

Singapore

Slovenia

Turkmenistan

Türkiye

Sweden

Ethiopia

South Korea