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Diplomacy's efficiency declined amid lack of trust — Russia’s foreign policy concept

Earlier, it was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees dismissing Russian Ambassador to Latvia Mikhail Vanin and Russian Ambassador to Estonia Vladimir Lipaev

MOSCOW, March 31. /TASS/. The declining effectiveness of diplomacy happens amid a lack of trust, according to the new Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation, approved on Friday by decree of President Vladimir Putin.

"The culture of dialogue in international affairs is degrading, and the effectiveness of diplomacy as a means of peaceful dispute settlement is decreasing. There is an acute lack of trust and predictability in international affairs," the document said.

It was reported earlier on Friday, that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees dismissing Russian Ambassador to Latvia Mikhail Vanin and Russian Ambassador to Estonia Vladimir Lipaev.

Estonia has reduced bilateral relations with Russia to an absolute minimum since the start of the Russian special military mission. The Estonian Foreign Ministry stated in January 2023 that Russia, in order to achieve parity in the number of employees in embassies, should reduce the number of its employees to 8 diplomatic posts and up to 15 administrative, technical, and service staff positions by February 1.

In reaction to a substantial reduction in the number of staff at its embassy in Tallinn, Russia chose to reduce the level of diplomatic relations with Estonia and offered the country’s ambassador to leave Moscow. At the same time, the Estonian Foreign Ministry announced that the Russian ambassador would depart on the same day. Latvia chose to reduce diplomatic relations with Russia on January 23 in solidarity with Estonia.

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