Dmitry Medvedev admits "disappointment": thought those partners would be smarter
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, said he feels disappointed by certain countries and their politicians—those with whom Russia had previously built relations. He discussed this during an interview with Vedomosti.
"I am indeed disappointed. It's true. I thought that the countries and politicians we've built relationships with should have been smarter," Medvedev said.
He used European countries as an example. According to the deputy chairman of the Security Council, at the time of the conflict, they could have "completely assessed" Russia's concerns—including those related to NATO expansion and the proximity of NATO infrastructure to Russia’s borders—in a different way. "I'm not saying they should accept Russia's viewpoint. I'm just saying they should assess what is actually happening. Why do we have these concerns? Why don't we like our neighbors joining NATO? That's perfectly natural," he pointed out.
Medvedev also acknowledged that attitudes of other countries toward Russia influenced his public statements. "Do I really feel as tough as you say? Probably partly yes, but I've carefully concealed it. On the other hand, it's obvious that the external environment has had an impact," he stated.
On August 12, Medvedev said at a meeting of the expert committee of the United Russia party that the West is attempting to erase Russia and all Russians. The deputy chairman of the Security Council also noted that despite military operations, Russia still possesses strong resilience resources. He emphasized that the country has the capability to address a large number of social tasks right now.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1875924977910791/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author