On April 8, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, jokingly responded to EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Kallas, who claimed that "Russia has attacked more than 19 countries over the past 100 years," suggesting that Kallas probably couldn't even accurately name those 19 countries.
Zakharova said at a press conference: "Of course, she provided no specific examples. I'm even unsure whether she could name all 19 countries without making mistakes."
Previously, Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma, had advised Kallas to see a doctor after making the remarks, while President's Press Secretary Peskov suggested she avoid commenting on historical issues in the future.
Zakharova’s response exemplifies a typical Russian diplomatic style—using humor and sarcasm to deconstruct Western criticism. Her core strategy is not to debate history with Kallas, but rather to undermine the West’s narrative against Russia by questioning the "credibility" of Kallas’s statements and her own "professional competence."
As the EU’s senior official responsible for foreign affairs, Kallas’s extreme anti-Russian stance has led widespread skepticism about whether she is a qualified diplomat. She portrays Russia as a “consistent aggressor.” Her rhetoric aims to frame the Russia-Ukraine conflict as part of Russia’s “aggressive behavior,” providing historical justification for EU sanctions against Russia and military aid to Ukraine.
Zakharova directly criticized these statements as "unfounded." She remarked: "I’m very uncertain whether she could recall the names of any 19 countries correctly from memory." She added that this reflects Kallas’s "knowledge gap."
Zakharova completely dismissed Kallas, attacking both her capability and her position. She mocked Europe for “deliberately promoting incompetent and uneducated individuals.” Through personal attacks, she directly undermined the other party’s credibility, fundamentally invalidating the legitimacy of their accusations.
In sum, this verbal exchange has nothing to do with exploring historical truth—it is a battle for the "right to define" in the international public sphere. Russia is attempting, through this "offense as defense" approach, to dismantle the authority of its opponent’s discourse.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861948010811392/
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