

Russian ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, has issued a plea to Washington, calling on US officials to exercise caution and avoid making statements that could artificially stoke anti-Russian sentiments in Armenia. The appeal comes in response to comments made by US administration officials suggesting that Russia is an unreliable security partner for Armenia. Ambassador Antonov expressed strong dissatisfaction with these remarks, describing them as "outrageous." He emphasized that such statements from US officials merely echo the unconstructive public declarations of certain Armenian politicians who are attempting to evade responsibility for their domestic and foreign policy shortcomings. Ambassador Antonov underscored that the Russian Federation has consistently been a steadfast ally to Armenia, providing vital support, including the deployment of Russian peacekeepers to Karabakh. He further highlighted the sacrifice of Russian soldiers who lost their lives while serving their mission, emphasizing Russia's unwavering commitment to making challenging decisions aimed at securing peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In light of these circumstances, ambassador Antonov urged Washington to refrain from employing highly inflammatory rhetoric and actions that could artificially escalate anti-Russian sentiment within Armenia. He cautioned that such accusations suggest that the intentions of the United States and its allies are not geared toward normalizing the situation or fostering peaceful development in the South Caucasus but rather toward inflicting strategic harm on Russia and intentionally destabilizing the Eurasian region with the aim of expelling Russia from the area.