06:13Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called the European Union’s approach to granting EU membership to new states a 'scam', speaking at a briefing on the sidelines of the 27th St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Friday.
"Countries that have not met, or continue not to meet, more than the basic principles that candidates [for EU membership] must meet, will never do so. And everyone knows it. But they are also being dragged there against the will of the people of these countries," Zakharova said, adding that those countries that 'systematically improved their indicators necessary for joining the EU' were not granted the membership yet.
"This shows that we are talking about double standards in literally every aspect of the Western approach to the international agenda. <...> Since they [the EU member states] claim to be a kind of leader in world affairs, they must bring the criteria of their attitude to the world into line, they must destroy this double standard. And this, excuse me, is just a scam, no longer a double standard," she continued.
In addition, Zakharova commented on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s words about strikes inside Russia and the West’s adjustment of its strategy.
"Let me say for him what he was too shy to say for some reason: Washington has been adjusting its fire, not the West's position, for all these years - not just since 2022. It is no secret that Western countries have been involved in the destruction of Ukraine's statehood and in direct hostilities against the peaceful civilian population of Donbass," she claimed.
On May 31, Blinken said that US President Joe Biden had approved the use of American weapons by Ukraine to launch strikes on targets in Russia. At the same time, a number of EU countries, including Germany, France, Latvia and Sweden, also supported Ukraine’s right to strike Russian territory, while Italy opposed it.
Earlier, EU High Representative Josep Borrell called Ukraine’s use of Western weapons to hit military facilities in Russia 'legitimate action under international law' if the strikes are launched 'in a proportionate manner'.
In addition, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said 'Ukraine has the right of self-defence' and 'some allies have never imposed any restrictions' on strikes inside Russia.
For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the countries supplying Ukraine with weapons should be aware of the seriousness of the consequences in case of possible strikes on Russian territory.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
SPIEF 2024, taking place from June 5-8, includes participants from over 136 countries. Since its inception in 1997, the forum has served as a platform for international dialogue on economic matters, with the patronage and participation of the Russian Federation's president since 2005.
Zakharova calls EU's position on granting membership a 'scam'
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called the European Union’s approach to granting EU membership to new states a 'scam', speaking at a briefing on the sidelines of the 27th St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Friday.
"Countries that have not met, or continue not to meet, more than the basic principles that candidates [for EU membership] must meet, will never do so. And everyone knows it. But they are also being dragged there against the will of the people of these countries," Zakharova said, adding that those countries that 'systematically improved their indicators necessary for joining the EU' were not granted the membership yet.
"This shows that we are talking about double standards in literally every aspect of the Western approach to the international agenda. <...> Since they [the EU member states] claim to be a kind of leader in world affairs, they must bring the criteria of their attitude to the world into line, they must destroy this double standard. And this, excuse me, is just a scam, no longer a double standard," she continued.
In addition, Zakharova commented on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s words about strikes inside Russia and the West’s adjustment of its strategy.
"Let me say for him what he was too shy to say for some reason: Washington has been adjusting its fire, not the West's position, for all these years - not just since 2022. It is no secret that Western countries have been involved in the destruction of Ukraine's statehood and in direct hostilities against the peaceful civilian population of Donbass," she claimed.
On May 31, Blinken said that US President Joe Biden had approved the use of American weapons by Ukraine to launch strikes on targets in Russia. At the same time, a number of EU countries, including Germany, France, Latvia and Sweden, also supported Ukraine’s right to strike Russian territory, while Italy opposed it.
Earlier, EU High Representative Josep Borrell called Ukraine’s use of Western weapons to hit military facilities in Russia 'legitimate action under international law' if the strikes are launched 'in a proportionate manner'.
In addition, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said 'Ukraine has the right of self-defence' and 'some allies have never imposed any restrictions' on strikes inside Russia.
For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the countries supplying Ukraine with weapons should be aware of the seriousness of the consequences in case of possible strikes on Russian territory.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
SPIEF 2024, taking place from June 5-8, includes participants from over 136 countries. Since its inception in 1997, the forum has served as a platform for international dialogue on economic matters, with the patronage and participation of the Russian Federation's president since 2005.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called the European Union’s approach to granting EU membership to new states a 'scam', speaking at a briefing on the sidelines of the 27th St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Friday.
"Countries that have not met, or continue not to meet, more than the basic principles that candidates [for EU membership] must meet, will never do so. And everyone knows it. But they are also being dragged there against the will of the people of these countries," Zakharova said, adding that those countries that 'systematically improved their indicators necessary for joining the EU' were not granted the membership yet.
"This shows that we are talking about double standards in literally every aspect of the Western approach to the international agenda. <...> Since they [the EU member states] claim to be a kind of leader in world affairs, they must bring the criteria of their attitude to the world into line, they must destroy this double standard. And this, excuse me, is just a scam, no longer a double standard," she continued.
In addition, Zakharova commented on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s words about strikes inside Russia and the West’s adjustment of its strategy.
"Let me say for him what he was too shy to say for some reason: Washington has been adjusting its fire, not the West's position, for all these years - not just since 2022. It is no secret that Western countries have been involved in the destruction of Ukraine's statehood and in direct hostilities against the peaceful civilian population of Donbass," she claimed.
On May 31, Blinken said that US President Joe Biden had approved the use of American weapons by Ukraine to launch strikes on targets in Russia. At the same time, a number of EU countries, including Germany, France, Latvia and Sweden, also supported Ukraine’s right to strike Russian territory, while Italy opposed it.
Earlier, EU High Representative Josep Borrell called Ukraine’s use of Western weapons to hit military facilities in Russia 'legitimate action under international law' if the strikes are launched 'in a proportionate manner'.
In addition, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said 'Ukraine has the right of self-defence' and 'some allies have never imposed any restrictions' on strikes inside Russia.
For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the countries supplying Ukraine with weapons should be aware of the seriousness of the consequences in case of possible strikes on Russian territory.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
SPIEF 2024, taking place from June 5-8, includes participants from over 136 countries. Since its inception in 1997, the forum has served as a platform for international dialogue on economic matters, with the patronage and participation of the Russian Federation's president since 2005.