MOSCOW, July 1. /ITAR-TASS/. A unipolar model of the world has failed, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said addressing a meeting of ambassadors and permanent representatives of Russia on Tuesday while specifying the main tasks of the country’s diplomacy.
“Peoples and countries are expressing more and more loudly their will to determine their destiny by themselves, to preserve their civilization and cultural identity, which comes into conflict with attempts by certain countries to keep their dominance in the military sphere, in politics, finance, economy and ideology,” Putin said.
“Western partners were trying to persuade us that they had good intentions, that they were ready to combine efforts with us to build strategic cooperation. But, at the same time, they were making steps to further expand NATO, to move their military and political control closer to our borders,” he noted.
“Those who keep on stating about their exclusiveness are averse to Russia’s independent policy. Developments in Ukraine have demonstrated this only too well. More than that, these developments have demonstrated that the model of relations with Russia based on double standards does not work,” Putin stressed.
The Russian leader called to “get rid of ambitions, to impose common rules for every society". He called to “begin building relations on the basis of equal rights, mutual respect, and respect to each other’s interests". “It is high time we recognized the right to be different, the right of each country to build its life on its own will, and not to anybody’s meddlesome dictation,” Putin underscored.
Russia will not wind down its relations with the United States, though they had been spoiled not by Russia's fault, the president stressed.
The Russian president added that Russia always sought to be a reliable partner and conduct business on a basis of equality. "However, in return, our legitimate interest were often ignored," the president said.
He noted that "ultimatums and mentoring intonations" are often heard towards Russia. "However, we are ready for a constructive dialogue, but, I will stress it again, on a basis of equality," Putin concluded.
On cooperation with Europe
Europe is Russia's natural and most important trade and economic partner, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
He has said Russia will be pushing ahead with the South Stream pipeline project despite the known difficulties.
“In cooperation with the European companies, we have built Nord Stream,” Putin recalled. “And despite the known difficulties, we shall go ahead with the South Stream project," the president said.
Someone seeks to use Europe in his interests, Putin noted. “More and more European politicians and businessmen are coming to understand that someone is simply seeking to use Europe in his interests, that it is becoming a hostage of short-sighted, ideologized approaches,” he said at a meeting with Russian ambassadors and permanent representatives.
On Ukraine
Russia and Europe failed to convince Poroshenko there is no way to peace through war, the Russian president noted.
He added that Petro Poroshenko assumed political and military responsibility.