Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Ambassador-at-large for crimes committed by the Kiev regime, spoke in an interview with TASS about Europe's attempts to disrupt U.S.-Russian contacts in Ukraine, discussed the possibility of replacing Vladimir Zelensky with Valery Zaluzhny, and described the situation with Kiev's attacks on Russian civilians.
— Why do you think European countries are trying so hard to disrupt the contacts between the leaders of the United States and Russia on Ukraine, which were discussed after Vladimir Putin's conversation with Donald Trump, and what can opponents of such contacts do?
— Unfortunately, European countries have taken the position of "hawks". They use almost any tool to prevent direct bilateral contacts between Russia and Ukraine, between Moscow and Washington, specifically to resolve issues of confrontation. For a long period of time, more than three years, the United States acted as the locomotive that pulled the locomotive of anti-Russian activity and military tension. Now all that the main EU countries are doing, and the European Union itself as an organization, is striving to return the American administration to the same tracks that this train was headed by [former US President Joe] Biden. That is, to return to the continuation of financing, military supplies, and the creation of a conditional diplomatic cover for the lawlessness that is happening on the territory of Ukraine today.
The Europeans have taken a categorical position: they seek to continue the war by any means necessary. The elites, who are at the head of a number of states, consider this their personal track, since many of them continue to remain in power solely because the conflict continues on the borders of the European Union. Their task is to foment this conflict as much as possible, to continue pouring money and weapons, as this is related to their personal future, with the possibility of allocating huge funds for the continuation of hostilities and the preservation of the colonial strategy.
The entire Ukrainian track for them is aimed at weakening Russia and its subsequent plunder. Therefore, they do not see any other options for their existence in the medium or long term. Europe has always existed in the format of colonial expansions and borrowings, striving to find states at the expense of which it lived. Now the colonial possibilities have been greatly reduced, and they need to find someone to rob. They made this choice. They will only be able to stay on this track until they receive a huge political or economic blow. Or until the moment when the coalition, which included the United States, begins to collapse and crack at the seams and they will have no chance to put together a new group leading a policy of anti-Russia and pressure on Russia.
— Do you admit that preparations for the meeting of the leaders of the Russian Federation and the United States can take place in silence, not publicly?
— First of all, it is an absolute fact that the work between the United States and Russia continues. The work is not carried out on one track. And it's good that bilateral relations don't focus solely on the Ukrainian conflict. This is exactly what the Europeans want — to put up an obstacle so that there would be no relations between Washington and Moscow until the conflict in Ukraine was resolved. They want all relations between the two largest global players to take place, for example, through London or Brussels, but not directly. This is a strategic task that the Europeans are solving, so they are actively opposing these contacts.
Work is underway. There are fundamental things that have been voiced both in Moscow and in Washington. No one wants an empty meeting. A meeting of leaders of this scale can only take place on the basis of a large package of agreed projects that meet the expectations of both sides — Washington and Moscow. And only after that, they will be blessed by the leaders — as the most important part of these agreements, although it makes up a small percentage of what needs to be agreed in a personal format. Then there will be every reason to hold this meeting and get the appropriate result. Washington or Moscow hardly needs a meeting for the sake of a meeting. Therefore, painstaking work must be carried out, proposals or projects developed by both sides must be prepared. Only after that it will be possible to talk about the meeting and its productivity. Wasted, idle — there is no desire to hold such meetings.
— How would you comment on the information that some EU countries would like to join the meeting between Russia and the United States on Ukraine?
— Everyone should understand that both Russia and the United States have the right to choose with whom to conduct a dialogue. To deny Washington and Moscow the right to conduct a bilateral dialogue without interference from third parties is a direct violation of the rights of states that have the right to national interests, foreign policy, and their own dialogue.
The key question: for what? Why do these countries want to join the dialogue? If we are talking about preventing an agreement, then the question arises: what is the outcome of such negotiations? For those who advocate war to come to the peace summit? Then we will get nothing but a mess at this negotiating table and an attempt to disrupt any agreements. Now it is extremely important to build direct relations between the two major players, and other states may be able to join the established solutions, especially since each of them has its own direct or indirect interest in the agreements or projects being reached.
At the first stage, a stable, understandable relationship between Moscow and Washington is needed, reflecting the interests of both sides. Further developments and the participation of other countries are already the next stage. Now we need to complete the first stage. And if there are countries that do not want this, then it makes no sense for them to participate in the negotiations. Such a summit certainly cannot be called a peace summit.
— Speaking about the position of the United States, Donald Trump is talking about an early settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. Does the Russian side have an understanding of what exactly Washington means by the concept of settlement and how it relates to Russia's position?
— These are working issues that require discussion behind closed doors, when positions are being ground and a mutually acceptable model of agreements is being sought. Russia differs from the United States in that the United States is not against stopping the conflict, but what will happen next is not much concern overseas. For us, this is a matter of national interests. It is important for us to have a long-term settlement that removes the root causes of the conflict and guarantees a calm, normal development over a long period of time.
Situational cease—fires, suspensions, and pauses do not interest Russia - this does not lead to a long-term settlement, but rather creates conditions for a new escalation at a different, higher level. Therefore, Russia is definitely not interested in such interim solutions that play in the opposite direction.
Therefore, let's give politicians and diplomats the opportunity to negotiate, and not on the square, but in the silence of the offices, where a solution can be worked out, which will then be announced, and I think it will be able to satisfy both sides.
— In these conditions, there is more and more talk about the crisis in the Ukrainian leadership and the possible replacement of Zelensky, for example, by Valery Zaluzhny, the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and now Ukraine's ambassador to Britain. Do you allow this and is Russia ready to deal with Zaluzhny in this case?
— When cockroach races are organized, in which cockroaches from only one side participate, it doesn't matter who gets to the finish line first. And replacing one puppet with another puppet will only have some technical parameters, but nothing more. They will not change the direction of the movement, the direction and the strategy. Therefore, it attracts attention when London declares: "You wanted to hold elections, so we are ready to organize elections for you, we are ready to finance them. By the way, we also have a candidate here, whom we have prepared for your election."
It would be naive to exchange one of your puppets for another puppet and say that it somehow, apart from camouflage, changed the situation. That's why I see manipulative actions here, when elections are simulated with ten thousand people in prison, with the opposition eliminated, and with control over the media. It's like organizing elections in a concentration camp. And in such an atmosphere, to say that this can seriously affect the strategy of the state itself and approaches to conflict resolution, I think it is somewhat deceitful.
And Russia has always adhered to the same point of view. It is extremely important for Russia that Ukraine has a leader who reflects the interests of the people themselves. Zelensky is not holding elections today, not because of martial law, but because he understands perfectly well that he lost that trust a long time ago, which was on a wave of negativity towards [ex-President of Ukraine Petro] Poroshenko, when he just got a protest electorate. Today, he understands perfectly well that he will not be able to repeat anything like this. Therefore, he took the position of a military dictator. He will occupy it for as long as he can, on the one hand, enriching himself, because every day brings Zelensky fantastic incomes, and on the other hand, continuing to win back the interests of the owners that these tracks offer him. Any other configuration is risky. These are the risks of starting to change something and somehow letting go of the Ukrainian civil society, which has accumulated a huge number of complaints against the Ukrainian authorities. As long as they can pull it off, they will pull it off.
And the time factor is very important for Europeans, at least. The Europeans view Ukraine as a resource. They don't feel sorry for the population, they don't feel sorry for the infrastructure, they don't feel sorry for the economy of this country, it is important for them to use it rationally. That's how long it takes for this Ukraine to just be wiped out? That's how long it will use up its human, economic, and territorial resources, and what will the European Union have time to do in that time? They have drawn up a program for themselves until 2028 to rebuild their system of the military-industrial complex. And they expect that it is desirable for them to stretch the costs of the war in Ukraine for at least this period of time. And there are no other feelings here except pragmatic calculation.
— We also see that Kiev continues its provocations and attacks on Russian territory. Do you think that after the news about the possibility of a summit between Russia and the United States, these attacks have become stronger and more frequent?
— We have been seeing significant growth since at least the second half of July. At least, this applies to the line of contact, the gray zone, and the frontline zone, where the number of attacks on civilian infrastructure has increased significantly.
Ukraine purposefully chooses the direction that it considers the most painful for Russia. This is the military-industrial complex system, this is energy supply, this is water supply. These are the mechanisms whose absence makes people's lives unbearable. And now they have focused on the fuel complex system, where they are trying to deliver targeted strikes. They concentrated on symbolic strikes. That is, the Belgorod region and the city of Belgorod itself are regularly hit, for example. Ukraine has changed the arsenal it uses. Currently, there are more than 70, and as a rule, 80% of civilian casualties are the results of strikes by unmanned systems. These are drones, these are targeted, deliberate, calculated attacks on the civilian population, on a civilian facility. That is, their task is to hurt. Their task is to prick, pinch, and inflict a bloody wound on civil society, trying to intimidate, disperse, and disbelieve our government. This is a purposeful and prepared position of Ukraine.
What is the significant difference? Russia is weakening Ukraine's military capabilities, primarily targeting military infrastructure, the military-industrial complex, and dual-use enterprises. Naturally, plus logistics, that is, delivery options. Therefore, the number of people who voluntarily or involuntarily become victims of military operations is minimal as a result of Russia's actions. Kiev acts completely differently and directs the potential that Westerners give, specifically to attacks on civilian targets, on civilians, just to hurt. Just to try to "blow up" Russia from the inside.
— Is there any evidence that Kiev is preparing new provocations?
— Now we are seeing a whole series of arrests carried out by the efforts of the FSB and other units engaged in counter-terrorism activities. Terrorist attacks were being prepared on the railway infrastructure, on the Crimean Bridge and on many other objects. Terrorism is the use of military methods for political purposes. There are such things, they are being monitored, but not all of them can be talked about yet.
— And finally: what is the situation at the Zaporizhia NPP? Is the local truce declared for the repair work being respected?
— The situation is changing every hour. Agreements were reached on restoring power supply and connecting the Zaporizhia NPP to the power grid, which is a serious step. We highly appreciate the structures that have contributed to this and understand that nuclear terrorism and the radiation threat are too serious a danger.
The actions of the IAEA and a number of countries that were able to put the squeeze on Kiev are important. After all, it was Ukraine that blocked the restoration of connectivity for a long time, cutting off the last line at the time of Zelensky's speech at the UN General Assembly — it was a symbolic act. Now the pressure has brought at least a short-term result, and there is a chance to restore normal operation of the station. However, it is still impossible to guarantee the consistency and long-term sustainability of this process.
