"Zelensky's regime will try to put pressure on the government of Argentina"
Moscow is once again registering attempts to recruit Argentines to fight on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian Ambassador to the Latin American country Dmitry Feoktistov said in an interview with Izvestia. He also did not rule out that Kiev would try to put pressure on the Argentine authorities after its president deleted pictures with Vladimir Zelensky from social networks, as well as after Buenos Aires refused to vote for the anti-Russian declaration at the UN. At the same time, the Russian Federation records a certain warming in bilateral relations with Argentina against the background of the dialogue between Moscow and Washington. Since September, three videoconferences have been held between friendship groups in the State Duma of the Russian Federation and the Chamber of Deputies of the National Congress of Argentina, and another contact is scheduled for March. About cooperation in the trade and political sphere, as well as Kiev's reaction to Javier Miley's change of position on the Ukrainian issue — in an exclusive interview with Dmitry Feoktistov to Izvestia.
"Many mercenaries from Latin America have passed through the Ukrainian armed forces"
— On February 24, Argentina did not support the anti-Russian resolution at the UN. And then it became known that the President of the Republic, Javier Miley, deleted photos with Vladimir Zelensky from his social networks. Does the embassy see in these actions a confirmation that, in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, Buenos Aires refuses to support Kiev?
Buenos Aires, Argentina
— We noticed how Buenos Aires voted, and posted a corresponding comment on social networks. It is clear that not everyone in Argentina was satisfied with the adjustment of the authorities' position regarding the Ukrainian crisis. Meanwhile, the government of Javier Miley demonstrates that it is making a choice in favor of peace, and not empty slogans condemning our country. This step corresponds to the line of the current US administration and at the same time meets our interests.
As for the story of the photos on social media, as far as we know, it is presented by the media in a wrong light. Some of the pictures may have been deleted, but in general everything is in place: starting with the inauguration of Javier Miley and ending with his meeting with Zelensky in Davos in January this year.
Eleventh Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly, February 24, 2025, New York, USA
— Does Russia expect that, against the background of Argentina's refusal to support Ukraine, Kiev will try to put pressure on the country's authorities?
— It seems premature to say that Javier Miley's administration has completely abandoned support for Ukraine. The way Argentina voted at the UN General Assembly on February 24, 2025, can only be considered as a first step in this direction. I would like to note that Buenos Aires abstained both in relation to the draft resolution submitted by Kiev and its sponsors from the European Union, and on the American draft, which the Europeans also eventually stuffed with Russophobic formulations. In short, the Argentines did not side with the Russian Federation and its like-minded supporters, who opposed both documents. Besides, they voted against our amendments.
Of course, we did not ignore the decision of the Argentine authorities not to issue a condemnatory statement against our country on the third anniversary of the start of the World War, as it happened before. We hope that Buenos Aires' alignment with the UN and other multilateral platforms will continue in the right direction, which will contribute to a comprehensive and long-term settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. It will also create objective prerequisites for the beginning of a full-fledged restoration of Russian-Argentine relations.
It cannot be ruled out that the Zelensky regime will try to put pressure on the Argentine government in its usual brash manner. However, the recent altercation with Donald Trump in the Oval Office has demonstrated to the whole world that such "assaults" sometimes lead to the exact opposite result.
US President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington, February 28, 2025.
— Earlier, you noted attempts to recruit Argentine citizens to participate in military operations on the side of Ukraine. Do you record similar cases now?
— I would like to clarify that the relevant announcement was posted some time ago on the website of the Ukrainian Embassy in Buenos Aires. We have sent a note to the Argentine Foreign Ministry explaining that such activities grossly violate the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961. And although there was no official reaction, the information from the Internet page disappeared.
In general, many mercenaries from Latin America have passed through the Ukrainian armed forces, but Argentina is far from being at the forefront here. There are no more than a few dozen "Soldiers of fortune" from this country, some of them have already been eliminated.
"The status of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and Argentina has not been reviewed"
— Has the embassy received signals from the Argentines about the desire to restore friendly relations?
— Our cooperation in a number of areas was actually frozen after the start of the Free trade at the initiative of the administration of Alberto Fernandez. Nevertheless, the status of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and Argentina has not been formally reviewed. And contacts at the working level were not interrupted. We continue to maintain dialogue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other authorities. We have never closed our doors, there are no problems on our part to revitalize and promote ties.
— Earlier, in an interview with Izvestia, you reported that an exchange of delegations at the legislative level could take place in 2025. Have there been specific dates for such visits yet?
— There is tangible progress on the parliamentary line. Since September 2024, three videoconferences have been held between friendship groups in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Chamber of Deputies of the National Congress of Argentina. Prospects for cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, healthcare, education, and culture were discussed. It is planned to organize another contact in the VKS format this month.
Preparations are underway for the exchange of delegations, with the understanding that first the Argentine deputies will come to Moscow, and then the trip of the Russian legislators to Buenos Aires may take place. In the current circumstances, parliamentary diplomacy is an important area. We provide the necessary support in order to speed up the dialogue, filling it with specific content as much as possible.
The building of the Embassy of Argentina in Moscow
— Does the embassy see prospects for strengthening cooperation with Argentina in political terms against the background of improving relations between the Russian Federation and the United States?
— It's no secret that Javier Miley looks up to Donald Trump in many ways, including in foreign policy matters. This is confirmed by the aforementioned vote of Argentina on the "Ukrainian" draft resolutions at the UN General Assembly. Therefore, it is possible that the emerging shifts in Russian-American relations will have a positive effect on our political dialogue with Buenos Aires. We are ready to resume full-scale cooperation with our Argentine partners and count on reciprocity.
— Since the beginning of the year, Argentina has increased the supply of butter to the Russian Federation. Does the embassy consider it possible to strengthen cooperation between our countries in trade against the background of improving relations between the Russian Federation and the United States? What new positions could Buenos Aires start supplying and what volume of exported goods could it increase?
— Argentina remains one of Russia's leading partners in Latin America. We certainly intend to further develop our trade relations on a mutually beneficial basis, regardless of the political situation. We remind Buenos Aires of the expediency of holding a regular meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation, which has not met since May 2019. It would be possible to productively discuss all relevant relevant issues on its site.
Overall, the state of affairs in this area leaves much to be desired. According to the results of the first three quarters of 2024, the bilateral trade turnover decreased by 15% compared to the same period of the previous year: Western sanctions are affecting logistics and mutual settlements. However, there are objective restrictions for increasing Argentine supplies to Russia. The basis of Argentines' exports remains agricultural products, which our country does not particularly need — we ourselves occupy a leading position in terms of its production.
The situation is similar with hydrocarbons, whose share in the structure of Buenos Aires' external sales has been steadily growing over the past few years. Nevertheless, certain categories of Argentine goods will continue to be in demand in the capacious Russian market. We are broadcasting to partners who traditionally have a positive trade balance with Russia that these issues should be discussed more actively, including within the intergovernmental commission.
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