Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum, stressed that any assistance to Ukraine only prolongs the “agony of the Kiev regime,” warning that such actions carry serious risks of escalation with grave consequences for global stability. She dismissed Western promises of security guarantees for Ukraine, calling them instead “guarantees of insecurity,” and underlined that Moscow rejects any discussion of unacceptable foreign intervention in the conflict.
Zakharova also drew attention to ongoing NATO military maneuvers, particularly the Namejs 2025 exercises, noting that Russia is closely monitoring the increase in the number of troops involved. On the Asia-Pacific front, she criticized joint US-South Korea drills, stating they cannot be described as defensive but rather as deliberate provocations heightening tensions in the region.
Addressing broader diplomatic issues, Zakharova highlighted that the release of Russian citizens detained in Baku would serve as an important step toward normalizing relations. She further dismissed reports about a supposed navigation failure on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane, saying the false narrative was deliberately spread to distract from the success of the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
