The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, participated yesterday Friday in an international conference in New Delhi, India, where the main world political and economic challenges are discussed. One of the few events Russia attends. The diplomat took advantage of the occasion to try to project his country as a victim in the war in Ukraine.
"The war, which we are trying to stop, which was launched against us using the Ukrainian people, of course, influenced Russia's policy, including energy policy," Lavrov said, causing laughter among those attending the event. Surprised by the laughter of the public, the politician interrupted his speech for a few seconds.
Then he went on: "And the blunt way of describing what changed: We would no longer be dependent on any partner in the West. We would not allow it to blow up the pipelines again," referring to the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipeline in the Baltic Sea in September of last year.
However, as reported by the British channel Sky News, at other times during his speech the audience also applauded the politician when the interviewer asked him about the "double standards" of Western interventions: "Have you been interested in what What's happening in Iraq, what's happening in Afghanistan?"
The Russian Foreign Minister has traveled to several continents over the past year to rally support for the war in Ukraine. In the case of India, where the conference was held, the country maintains economic and military relations with Russia.
