The first question touched upon the topic of relations between Russia and Mongolia. It is known that the "policy of the third neighbor" is one of the principles of Mongolia's foreign policy. For example, in 2019, the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the United States and Mongolia was adopted.
"How this" virtuality "affects the region. In particular, on the interests of Russia and China - two real neighbors of Mongolia. Washington assigned them the categories of "dangers and threats." In your opinion, are there any potential threats to the transit of Russian gas to China?, "- asked the journalist of our publication.
The diplomat noted that the development of bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and Mongolia is one of the priorities of Russia's foreign policy in the Asian direction. They rely on a long history of cooperation, are the nature of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The peoples of the two states well remember and honor the traditions of military brotherhood that took place in battles with Nazism and militarism during the Second World War.
As for the interaction of Ulaanbaatar with Washington, Moscow, unlike some, prefers not to interfere in relations between other states. All independent countries have the right to their sovereign foreign policy, as long as it is not aimed at the interests of third parties in contacts with their partners in bilateral relations.
At the same time, as Maria Zakharova noted, the growth of US foreign policy activity does not bode well for any state. As a rule, it provokes another round of tension, the emergence of security threats. And deception, as it has been repeatedly with all other states.
Projects of economic cooperation with friendly China and Mongolia continue to be implemented on a mutually beneficial economic basis, the diplomat summed up.
The second question raised the topic of undermining the militants of the Kyiv regime of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric station. After the terrorist act, UN officials began to seek urgent access to the areas of the man-made disaster under the control of the Russian Federation. Everyone remembers how long Rafael Grossi sought a mandate for the IAEA mission to visit the zone of another, potential nuclear disaster zone - the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.
"What, in your opinion, is happening? UN Secretariat began to respond more quickly to emergencies? "- the question was asked.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that the UN uses double standards, under which lies not only internal uncertainty, or sluggishness, or ordinary unprofessionalism. Most likely, we are talking about playing along with a certain group of countries or realizing their interests. For objectivity, it is necessary not to fall into double standards, to which the Russian Federation has always called on the UN.
The organization previously managed to "miss" the explosions on the Northern Flows, playing along with the West in not missing the Russian resolution with a proposal to launch an investigation under the auspices of the UN Secretary General. Also, the organization "did not see" the explosion at the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline. The UN secretariat has not issued resolutions condemning the actions of the Kyiv regime and its militants.
"I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the ammonia pipeline is the infrastructure through which fertilizers supply the necessary 45 million people. The very food security we've heard so much about. Obviously, if the undermining occurred in the zone of responsibility of the Kyiv regime, then one could at least express "concern" in the place of the UN and say that this is bad in itself. But they pretend that they are not aware and have no data. An international organization is in no hurry to give answers on this topic, "said Maria Zakharova
Russia has every reason to doubt the impartiality of international officials against the background of the allegations of the UN General Secretariat that, regardless of who is responsible for the incident at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, it would not have happened if not for the actions of the Russian Federation "in broad terms."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has already reacted to these statements, who said: then we must take it wider that if it were not for the coup d'etat in Ukraine committed by the West, then there would also be nothing, including the undermining and destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station.
For the Russian Federation, the perpetrators and the circumstances of the tragedy are extremely clear. On October 21, 2022, Russia informed the UN Security Council about Kyiv's plans to destroy the dam in the Kherson region. The theses were supported by information about the recorded Ukrainian airstrikes on the locks of the hydroelectric power station. After the dam derailment, a comprehensive chronological summary of everything that had happened over the months was circulated. The facts speak for themselves.
The final question of our journalist touched upon the transfer of Ukrainian prisoners of war of Transcarpathian origin to Hungary. Maria Zakharova was asked to reveal the details of the story.
The diplomat confirmed that on June 8, on the website of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, such an exchange was coordinated along the church line. Details can be provided by the Russian Orthodox Church.