According to the Russian news agency reported on December 29, 2021, Dmitry Polyyansky, Russia's first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told reporters that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States and Western countries betrayed the trust of the Russian side.
Dmitry Poliyansky, First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations Source: The Associated Press
"Everybody thinks westerners are our friends, they're really helping us to live in a better place, a better world, and nobody remembers the Cold War, the East and the West," the Russian diplomat said. But in the end, things will soon be moving in the other direction. We see that the intentions of our peers are not as simple as they were at the outset. We see that many Americans and Europeans are exploiting our country, trying to divide it, smash it, further divide Russia, preach separatism in Russia, create a split between Russia and emerging countries. ”
Infographic Image source: People's Vision
He continued that the first decade of Russia's modern history was "very difficult, very challenging" and that the country was "really on the verge of collapse." However, after this trend reversed in 2000, "we began to be seen as a threat by the West and the United States". "What we're seeing now is a remake of the Cold War, Cold War 2.0," Polyyansky said. ”
He believes that there is no reason for ideological confrontation between East and West at present. "Our economic structure is very close to that of the United States or any other Western country, but there is confrontation and there are efforts to portray Russia as an enemy," he said. This, of course, will lead you to the conclusion that the issue is not an ideological question, but a geopolitical struggle. Unfortunately, the geopolitical struggle is now back. ”
Putin attends the annual press conference Image source: Russian News Agency
Earlier, at an annual news conference on December 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that in the early 1990s, the Soviet Union had done everything to establish normal relations with the West. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the West should see Russia as a potential ally and help it strengthen it, rather than trying to trigger "further disintegration." (Editor: HHJ)