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Lawmaker says last two years were challenging for Russian diplomacy

Lawmaker says last twi years were challenging for Russian diplomacy

Alexey Pushkov Alexander Shalgin/TASS

Alexey Pushkov

© Alexander Shalgin/TASS

MOSCOW, June 15. /TASS/. US attempt to isolate Russia has failed as isolation did not even manage to remain in force for 1.5 years, chairman of Russian State Duma’s International Affairs Committee Alexey Pushkov said on Wednesday.

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The last two years became "a considerable challenge" for Russian diplomacy and foreign policy in general, Pushkov said at the State Duma during the "Government Hour" session. "Today we can say that we have passed this test. The main indicator is that the aim officially declared by US President Barack Obama - isolation of Russia - has failed. Isolation did not manage to remain in force for a year, for a year-and-a-half," the lawmaker explained.

He noted that the US leader does not even use this term - "isolation" - anymore. "It (isolation) has failed when Obama met out of necessity with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin at UN General Assembly in New York in September 2015," Pushkov said.

"The fact that Russia’s participation is necessary in resolving international issues was recognized by Obama, recognized by (US State Secretary) John Kerry," the lawmaker stressed. Putin’s meetings with the leaders of France, Austria, Greece, Germany and Italy also prove this, he continued. "This is also confirmed by the recent visit of (Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo) Abe made despite US wishes, and this is also proved by (European Commission President Jean-Claude) Juncker to the economic forum in St. Petersburg despite very harsh criticism," Pushkov concluded.

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