Remarks by leaders and representatives of the State Duma factions on report of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

Members of the State Duma expressed their support for Russia’s foreign policy persuaded by the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs. They also called for cohesion in the face of current threats and challenges
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov

The leader of the CPRF faction Gennady Zyuganov Zyuganov Gennady Andreyevich Zyuganov
Gennady Andreyevich
cautioned against aggressive military rhetoric and provocations. He is convinced that those Western forces “that are trying to clash the Russians and Ukrainians should be considered as criminals.” According to the parliamentarian, it is necessary to develop people-to-people diplomacy and keep contacts with ordinary citizens, public organizations in Ukraine, where ordinary people, unlike the authorities, do not want war.

The member of the State Duma also noted the importance of protecting the interests of Russian citizens living on the territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.

“Those people in Washington, Kiev, Bonn, Berlin and any other city should see that we will protect our citizens and I assure you that there will be less reasons for further provocations,” Gennady Zyuganov said.

“We are obliged to defend the Russian world, we will not survive without that,” said the head of the CPRF faction.

The leader of the LDPR faction Vladimir Zhirinovsky Zhirinovsky Vladimir Volfovich Zhirinovsky
Vladimir Volfovich
noted “the special time we live in, as such events have never happened before.”

“They [the Western states] are ready to start war, but they don’t want to fight, as they are afraid. We don't want to fight either, but we can. They should take this into account. So that they understand that we can do it. We won’t do it, but we can, and they will get scared, they will retreat,” he said.

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According to Vladimir Zhirinovsky, these days “we are witnessing the epochal decisions: whether Russia will become the only superpower in the world or not”.

The Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, representative of “A Just Russia — For Truth” faction Alexander Babakov Babakov Alexander Mikhailovich Babakov
Alexander Mikhailovich
said that “we are witnessing a revival of diplomacy and the key role belongs to the Russian Foreign Ministry, demonstrating the true traditions of classical diplomacy to the rest of the world.”

“It is difficult to overestimate efforts of our diplomats aimed at preserving the strategic security system,” he added.

The parliamentarian also noted the contribution of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in countering the sanctions pressure put on our country. According to Alexander Babakov, the Foreign Ministry performs its activities “consistently and calmly, proving that sanctions could not have a significant impact not only on our position, but also on our present and future.” This was facilitated by the policy of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, successfully implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and members of all factions of the State Duma, regardless of their party affiliation, as said the parliamentarian.

The leader of the New People faction Alexey Nechaev Nechaev Alexey Gennadievich Nechaev
Alexey Gennadievich
also noted the Foreign Ministry’s achievements and added that Russian citizens “continue to count on the professionalism of Russian diplomats”.

“The West more and more often use the methods, actions, rhetoric in the style of the Cold War,” the parliamentarian aid, stressing that it can be characterized “like a relic of the past.”

“People are waiting for us not only to react to some attacks by foreign diplomats, to restrain ourselves in difficult moments, avoid boyish acts, and, thank God, that is the way it works for us,” said Alexey Nechaev. He thanked the Russian Foreign Ministry for the “very delicate work”.

The First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs, representative of the United Russia faction Vyacheslav Nikonov Nikonov Vyacheslav Alexeyevich Nikonov
Vyacheslav Alexeyevich
said that if the US and Western countries were real democracies, they would support Russia’s security guarantees proposals.

“There is nothing among our demands that they have not already signed and promised,” the parliamentarian said and recalled that earlier, in particular, there had already been promises not to expand NATO beyond the borders of the German Democratic Republic. There had also been guarantees on the non-deployment of weapons, but those guarantees were also violated.

“We need internal unity more than ever,” emphasized Vyacheslav Nikonov.

He added that the United Russia faction fully supported the actions of the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.