On March 30, Russian Ambassador to Cairo Georgiy Borisenko said the negotiations in Istanbul show that the Ukrainian government has some intentions to go forward with the peace process.
“The Ukrainian delegation said Kyiv will give up plans to join NATO and obtain neutral status instead. This is a good sign for us,” Borisenko said.
“ Russia encourages such behaviour by the Ukrainian government. In the meantime, we have to wait until these statements are translated into action,” he added.
Borisenko denied reports by Western media about the Russian army’s targeting civilians, schools and hospitals in Ukraine.
“They were formerly schools and hospitals. Now, they are being used to store ammunition,” he said.
The Russian envoy went on to say that operations on Ukrainian territory are carried out in accordance with the standards of international law and Article 51 of Part 7 of the United Nations Charter, and subject to the approval of the Federal Council and the official request of the administrations of the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics.
From the ambassador’s viewpoint, Russia embarked on military operation against Ukraine in order to preserve Russia’s security.
Regarding Egypt-Russia relations, Borisenko said they “will continue to develop”.
He added that his country is ready to compensate Ukrainian wheat imports to Egypt and secure the grain imports it needs.
Moscow is committed to all contracts and projects agreed upon with the Egyptian side, he told a press conference at the embassy on March 30.
Russian Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev said that Russia is ready to deliver all the agreed upon amounts of wheat that Egypt needs, the envoy said.
On joint projects, the ambassador told the Egyptian Mail that work at the Dabaa nuclear plant is proceeding on schedule as stated during President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s meeting with the head of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation Alexey Likhachev in December 2020.
“So far, we have no delays and we hope that there won’t be any delays. Despite the sanctions, Russia is able to meet its obligations,” he added.
The ambassador also affirmed Moscow’s commitment to all projects, including the Russian economic zone in the axis of the Suez Canal and the delivery of railway rolling stock.
He also noted that many countries do not support the sanctions.
“Sanctions give an opportunity for Egyptian firms to replace Western companies in the Russian market.
“We would be happy to have more Egyptian companies in the Russian market. Egypt can offer a lot to Russian customers such as fruit and vegetables,” he added.
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