MOSCOW, November 2. /TASS/. Western countries have been a breeding ground for the worst human vices, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu said in opening remarks at the international week Peoples of Russia.
Meanwhile, Russia’s strength as a power is underpinned not only by its ever-strengthening economic sovereignty and powerful combat capabilities but also in the people’s unity and their trust in the government.
TASS has compiled key statements from the top Russian security official.
Western demise
Western countries have been a breeding ground for the worst human vices, Shoigu argued: "The collective West which once claimed global dominance is rapidly degrading, and the worse vices are blooming there, while human rights and freedoms have lost their original meaning, currently becoming a tool for destroying society and imposing permissiveness."
According to him, "justice has given way to a presumption of guilt, and any accusations no longer require evidence. This practice has been widespread in the system of international relations," Shoigu added.
Western attempts to counter Russia
Western attempts to counter Russia have been increasingly aggressive in light of the imminent victory and successes in the course of the special military operation, he argued: "The closer we get to victory and the successful conclusion of the special military operation, the more aggressive and sophisticated these attempts [by the West] become."
An active campaign is currently underway to recruit and provide funding to those willing to support the destruction of Russian statehood from within, Shoigu revealed: "It’s no secret that there’s an ongoing effort to recruit, finance, and support individuals willing to destroy Russian statehood from within."
At the same time, Shoigu stressed that Russia had "always stood united in repelling the aggressor:" "There have repeated attempts to occupy Russia’s soil, seize its resources and enslave our peoples, but never this was achieved militarily. We have always stood united in repelling the aggressor."
Shoigu calls on West to leave Russia alone
Russia has no plans to destroy any country, as former colonial powers are collapsing on their own, Shoigu continued: "I don’t quite get why we should do that. We have no plans to destroy any country. Many of them - colonial powers - are collapsing on their own."
"The reason is that those whom they once enslaved and turned into their colonies, are awakening and rising as their self-consciousness and self-determination are reviving," Shoigu added.
According to him, while the West has "a constant need for an enemy," Russia is not going to attack Europe: "Look, our President [Vladimir Putin] has stated three or four times in the past two months that we are not going to attack Europe. And they insist that ‘Russia is waging a hybrid war on us.’"
The West’d better "take a chill pill" and leave Russia alone, he emphasized: "God forbid you live to see a day when Russia launches a hybrid war against you. Chill out, and don’t you attack us, as we are not going to attack anyone."
Ukraine settlement
European participation in the Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi requires discussion among all parties, Shoigu argued.
"A meeting in Abu Dhabi is being prepared. Our president confirmed that and said it would most likely take place in the second half of November. The meeting will be held at the same level as before. The delegations will remain unchanged: the US, Ukraine and Russia. This has already been confirmed," he said. "As for how Europe will be represented, that requires discussion and a decision by all three sides," Shoigu added.
Russia’s might
According to Shoigu, Russia’s strength as a power lies not only in its strengthening economic sovereignty and powerful combat capabilities but also in the unity of its citizens and their confidence in the government: "Our strength lies not only in the ever solidifying economic and technological sovereignty and the most powerful arsenal of weapons at our disposal but primarily in the underlying unity of the people and their confidence in the government and in the support from our country’s citizens toward its prosperity and the achievement of those goals that our population sets for ourselves.".