The United States and its allies have effectively blocked Russia's chairmanship in the Arctic Council, while Moscow is ready to resume dialogue and constructive cooperation with the Arctic countries based on respect for its interests, said Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev, who oversees issues of national maritime policy.
"Russia has always sought constructive cooperation with the Arctic states, and has been ready to work together to solve the economic, environmental, social, scientific and technological challenges of Arctic exploration. The main platform for dialogue was the Arctic Council, in which Russia was a chair from 2021 to 2023, proposing a constructive agenda for joint efforts," Patrushev said in Murmansk at a meeting on ensuring the national interests of the Russian Federation in the Arctic.
The main task of Russia's chairmanship in the Arctic Council was the development of the region based on a balance of economic, environmental and social factors, he noted. "However, the United States and its allies have effectively blocked Russia's chairmanship in the Arctic Council," Patrushev stated.
According to him, "at the same time, we are ready to resume dialogue and constructive interaction and cooperation with the Arctic states in the interests of peaceful development of the Arctic based on respect for our national interests," tass.ru reports.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
