All news

Russian diplomat: Putin demonstrates constructive approach to foreign policy issues

According to Konstantin Kosachev, the Russian leader showed readiness for dialogue with practically any forces and on any issues, including those that seem hopeless or closed

MOSCOW, December 17. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated a constructive approach to foreign policy issues during Thursday’s news conference, chairman of the Federation Council International Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev wrote in his blog on the website of the upper house of the Russian parliament.

According to him, the Russian leader showed readiness "for dialogue with practically any forces and on any issues, including those that seem hopeless or closed." "Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia — Putin kept all doors wide open. He sounded constructive, and his tone was unmistakably non-confrontational," Kosachev noted. "Those were the words of the leader of a responsible power, not a ‘trouble-maker state,’ a ‘lonesome insurgent,’ as Russia’s ill-wishers like to portray it," he added.

The senator particularly noted the president’s "support for the initiatives of Western nations — the US draft resolution of the UN Security Council on Syria presented in Moscow by US Secretary of State [John] Kerry and the idea of French President [Francois] Hollande to unite the Syrian army and the opposition in the fight against IS [the Islamic State terrorist group banned in Russia]."

Kosachev noted that "Russia’s stance on Syria has not changed, but received the necessary explanations today," namely, the confirmation of the fact that the situation in Syria "can be resolved by the political means, but concessions from both sides are needed."

Putin’s meeting with the media, as always, "dotted the I’s and highlighted key points on the topics that are most important to Russians," the parliamentarian wrote. "It once again refuted the notion that there are some annoying questions for the president — it is he who has tough answers, which are not always to the liking of those who consider themselves the sole truth-bearers," Kosachev added.