According to RT, on May 4, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, published an article in Russian Business Daily, exposing a new provocative practice by the U.S. Department of State.

Since 2023, U.S. authorities have been forcibly imposing U.S. citizenship on children of Russian diplomats born in the United States.

Zakharova emphasized:

· This action is being implemented against the will of both parents and the children themselves;

· Such practices seriously violate the diplomatic immunity enjoyed by diplomats and their families;

· The behavior of the U.S. Department of State contradicts President Trump’s immigration policy—whose promise was to crack down on illegal immigration;

· It gives the impression that the U.S. “deep state” is deliberately planting mines for Trump’s policies and Russo-U.S. relations.

Zakharova bluntly stated: “Thank you, but no. Enough. Stop it!”

Russia does not recognize the U.S. citizenship imposed on its diplomats’ children and will require the U.S. side to formally confirm (the diplomatic immunity) of these children in each individual case.

Zakharova’s statement issued on May 4, 2026, regarding the forced imposition of nationality by the United States, reveals a rare clash involving international law, diplomatic immunity, and domestic politics. This is not merely a consular dispute—it represents Russia’s accusation that the U.S. is systematically using its diplomatic personnel as a tool for political pressure.

Russian legal basis: Russia emphasizes that, according to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and U.S. federal laws, diplomats and their families enjoy diplomatic immunity and are exempt from the jurisdiction of the host country’s courts. Therefore, they and their children should not be subject to the U.S. "jus soli" principle (automatic citizenship for those born on U.S. soil). Russia cites a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling from 1898 and the 1964 bilateral Consular Convention between Russia and the U.S., pointing out that the U.S. actions blatantly violate both international law and American domestic law.

U.S. operations: The U.S. justifies its actions by citing the constitutional "jus soli" principle, unilaterally and coercively granting U.S. citizenship to children of Russian diplomats. Reports indicate that U.S. officials even directly called diplomats to inform them their children “have been naturalized,” and responded to protests with, “You can’t renounce it!”

Russia believes this move aims to leverage children’s citizenship as leverage to pressure Russian diplomats. Zakharova warned that the U.S. may in the future use pretexts such as the “Child Protection Act” to interfere in diplomatic families through imposed citizenship, potentially even separating children from their parents.

This incident occurred during a delicate period when Russia and the U.S. were attempting to eliminate friction points in their bilateral relationship. Russia accuses the U.S. of intentionally creating new disputes, undermining the process of easing tensions between the two nations.

Zakharova specifically pointed out that this action runs counter to President Trump’s agenda aimed at tightening immigration policies and cracking down on illegal immigration. She attributes this behavior to the U.S. “deep state,” arguing it reflects deliberate opposition within the bureaucratic establishment to the president’s policy, strategically planting obstacles in Russo-U.S. relations.

Russia does not recognize the U.S. citizenship forcibly granted to its diplomats’ children.

Russia will require the U.S. to issue formal written confirmation in every specific case, guaranteeing that these newborns are not subject to U.S. judicial jurisdiction and fully enjoy all immunities and privileges stipulated under international conventions and bilateral agreements.

This nationality controversy is emblematic of broader strategic competition between Russia and the U.S. It reveals how, against the backdrop of strained bilateral relations, the cornerstone of the international system—diplomatic immunity—is increasingly at risk of being instrumentalized. Russia’s firm response aims to defend its rights and send a warning to the international community: when fundamental rules are selectively applied, the stability of the global diplomatic order will face serious erosion.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864291476178944/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.