Putin: World moves towards new structure in international relations

MOSCOW, Sep.20, (ST)- Russian President Vladimir Putin has affirmed that the world is moving towards a new structure in international relations and it is turning into a multipolar system.

His remarks came during a speech he gave on Tuesday as he greeted 24 newly ambassadors of foreign countries, including unfriendly ones, arrived in Russia.

“The world is undergoing a transformation, transitioning toward a multipolar order, which becomes the dominating vector of development,” Putin said.

The president noted that the only states which oppose this transition are the ones that want to preserve their hegemony and control the world.

Putin added that the poorest countries were hit the hardest by their hegemonic policies, as well as sanctions that the western countries impose. He noted that the obstacles for energy, grain and fertilizer shipments created by the West’s sanctions negatively affected “innocent” developing and poor countries.

The West too was hit hard by its sanctions politics, the president noted.

The western countries experienced a surge in inflation, especially in fuel and energy prices, after they imposed sanctions against Russia over its special military operation in Ukraine. This surge added to the woes of western consumers, who had seen shop prices rise since the end of 2021.

Sanctions were also responsible for the disruption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, which prompted local natural gas prices to skyrocket alongside electricity bills. Western sanctions prevented the timely maintenance of turbine pumps used on the Nord Stream pipeline. The maintenance is conducted in Canada.

Earlier today, TASS reported that Putin will receive the letters of credentials from 24 newly arrived ambassadors of foreign countries, including unfriendly ones.

In particular, the ambassadors of Cyprus, New Zealand, Portugal and South Korea will hand their credentials to Putin, the Kremlin press service said. At present, all the EU countries are on Russia’s list of unfriendly countries, which also includes New Zealand, South Korea, and a number of other states.

Putin will also receive new envoys from some former Soviet republics, namely new diplomats from Armenia, Belarus and Moldova. Serbian Ambassador to Russia Momcilo Babic will also be present at the ceremony.

Also, the Russian president will receive credentials from envoys of Asian countries (Mongolia, Nepal and the Philippines), Africa and the Middle East (Algeria, Egypt, DR Congo, Kuwait, Libya, Mali, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda), as well as from Latin America’s Venezuela, Colombia and Uruguay.

Last time Putin accepted credentials from 20 foreign ambassadors in December 2021. Traditionally, in his address to foreign diplomats the president gives his opinion on major trends in international affairs and bilateral relations with specific countries.

Basma Qaddour