Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that there are no countries or languages hostile to Russia, only elites within certain nations that seek to weaken and divide the country.
No Hostile Countries
Putin's comments were made during a "Important Talks" session with students in Tuva, broadcast on the Kremlin's Telegram channel.
According to Putin, Russia does not perceive any nations or languages as adversarial. Instead, he argues that hostile elites in various countries have long sought to undermine and fragment Russia.
"We refuse nothing: we have no hostile languages, and we have no hostile countries. We have hostile elites in some countries that have been trying for centuries to weaken Russia," Putin stated, according to Lenta.
Elite-Driven Opposition
The Russian President's remarks come amidst heightened tensions between Russia and the West.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had previously emphasized that Moscow intends to respond firmly to unfriendly actions by Western nations.
Lavrov also reiterated that Putin has consistently expressed Russia's openness to engaging with Western countries, despite ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
Putin's comments reflect a broader narrative that frames Russia's international relations in terms of elite-driven opposition rather than nationalistic or cultural enmity.
This perspective aligns with Russia's recent diplomatic stance, which focuses on responding to perceived threats from Western powers while maintaining a readiness for dialogue.
