US Ejek Ryabkov And Declare To Imitate Nato Related To Nuclear Weapons

Photo archives - Russia's national flag in the Kremlin, Moscow, Russia (6/1/2023). (ANTARA/Xinhua/Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/aa.)

JAKARTA - In an interview with Russia's news agency TASS, Friday, May 17, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, said Moscow would "copy" the Western and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) approach, including in the issue of nuclear weapons.

In his interview, Ryabkov also mocked the United States (US) government, saying that "punk" (criminals) have ruled in the US, which has openly provoked Russia.

He stressed that Russia refrained from responding with full force and Moscow carried out "extraordinary self-restrictions" to avoid further escalation.

Ryabkov also said that Russia acted decisively within the framework set by the country's leadership and was determined based on the objectives and targets of "special military operations".

"There are also fashionistas in the West group, along with punk, who introduce ideas they consider fresh into discussions about what is going on," he said, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, May 18.

"For example, on Washington's orders, the trend of the summer of 2024 is a claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not stop in Ukraine and will definitely attack other NATO countries," he said.

Ryabkov called the claim "completely absurd."

He stressed that the statement was more than just disinformation to distort the essence of Russia's foreign policy.

"There is also another trend. It is a claim that uncertainty and strategic ambiguity must be shown regarding Russia so that Moscow does not know how NATO will act in certain situations.

"However, this uncertainty has always been a hallmark of Western group's doctoral approach, including approaches related to nuclear weapons," the deputy foreign minister said.

Ryabkov vowed, "We will emulate that approach in this matter."

When asked about a possible decline in the level of diplomatic relations, he said that, given the current crisis in relations, nothing could be ruled out -- although an approach like it was not Russia's choice.

"Those in power in the US and other important Western countries have recently gathered quite a number of figures who, in general, are provocateurs and make their existence a test of Moscow's strength," he said.

Ryabkov also responded to a question about US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Ukraine saying, "Just before the group's departure to Kiev, we received relevant information."

Regarding prisoner swaps, he mentioned that the frequency of contacts on the matter depends on the American side, which focuses on important cases followed by a long hiatus.

In response to allegations that Russia intends to interfere in the 2024 US Presidential election, Ryabkov said there was no Russian interference in the previous election and insisted interference would not occur.

Moscow, said Ryabkov, basically did not interfere in election campaigns in the US and any country.