The situation in the world is still far from stable “and is becoming less and less predictable,” President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Russian ambassadors and permanent representatives in foreign countries. He noted that competition in the world for influence and resources is intensifying.

Russia pursues an independent and independent foreign policy, advocates mutually beneficial cooperation and does not impose its will and values, “firmly follows” the norms of international law, but international relations are at a stage of change. “Some people,” according to Putin, not only violate them, but generally try to “throw aside any rules and conventions,” which interferes with the resolution of existing conflicts and the prevention of the emergence of new ones.

“We see persistent attempts by a number of partners to maintain a monopoly on geopolitical dominance. In this case, both the accumulated experience of suppressing, weakening, and pitting competitors against each other over centuries, as well as improved political and economic, financial, and today information levers, are used,” Putin said. As an example, he mentioned provoking regional conflicts, exporting “color revolutions”, etc., and to carry out such a policy, terrorists, fundamentalists, and sometimes “outright neo-fascists” are sometimes “accompliced.”

Putin cited as examples the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the creation of a US missile defense system in Europe and NATO's eastward expansion, including increased military activity in the east. Russia advocates the creation of a joint security system from the Atlantic to the Pacific, but it is not being heard, the president noted, calling the missile defense system a “deception,” a “fetish,” and “just an excuse” for violating the status quo.

“NATO’s anti-Russian orientation today is deliberately sticking out; the alliance is not only looking for confirmation of the legitimacy and expediency of its existence in Russia’s behavior, but is also taking real confrontational steps against us,” Putin noted.

Moscow sees everything that is happening and will react, but is not going to “indulge in militaristic frenzy,” the president added: “And this is exactly what they are trying to push us towards, to focus on diverting resources from development - this will not happen. But we can also protect ourselves.”

Russia “means to restore relations” with Turkey after an apology from Ankara, including cooperation in the fight against terrorism, the president said. Putin called the experience of working together with the United States to combat the militants of the Islamic State (recognized as terrorist in Russia and banned in Russia) in Syria effective and expressed confidence that the result is only possible through joint actions and the creation of a “broad coalition.”

Russia did not interfere in the Brexit situation, as well as in the presidential campaign that began in the United States, but will monitor the negotiations between Brussels and London, since the situation in Europe has an impact on Russia, our country respects the choice of the Americans and is ready to work with what who will eventually take over as the new President of the United States. At the same time, according to Putin, only an equal partnership is acceptable for Moscow in relations with the United States.

The last thing Putin emphasized in the open part of the meeting was the importance of “the struggle for influence on public opinion.” Information attacks on Russia from some “so-called partners” continue, and therefore the president called on diplomats to resist the “traditional monopoly of Western media” and support Russian media operating abroad. “We cannot simply ignore lies about Russia and allow the falsification of history,” Putin said, noting that the phrase “who owns the information, owns the world” has acquired great relevance.

Putin promised to protect Russia without “militarist frenzy”