Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says disparaging comments about the U.S.-Polish ties allegedly made by Poland's foreign minister showed "political realism."
In one of the leaked conversations released by a Polish magazine, Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski was heard denouncing the alliance with the U.S. as worthless and describing it in obscene terms.
Lavrov said Saturday that allegations of Russia's hand in the scandal were aimed at deflecting public attention from the awkward situation.
Lavrov said he was unaware of details of U.S.-Polish relations, adding that Russia wants to see EU nations conduct an independent policy.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has suggested that foreign interests might have been involved in the eavesdropping. He did not name any country, but said businessmen trading coal and gas from Russia were being investigated.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
