Russia builds its cooperation with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the nuclear energy sector on the basis of mutual respect and international law, in contrast to Western nations that operate from a position of dominance, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said during a briefing.
Her remarks follow recent comments by French President Emmanuel Macron to reduce its reliance on Russian uranium. Macron identified Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Canada, and Australia as key alternative suppliers to secure Europe's energy sovereignty.
"We see how the collective West is trying to stake out access to the Central Asian market and these specific natural resources," Zakharova stated. "They often use non-market methods while simultaneously striving to drive a wedge into our cooperation with the states of the region. We, however, build our partnership on the basis of law, bilateral agreements, and, most importantly, on mutual respect and the consideration of each other's interests."
Zakharova argued that while the West maintains a "colonial-type" dominant stance, Russia's interaction with its neighbors is defined by equality. "This is precisely how we are engaging with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to create modern nuclear energy industries and implement projects for the construction of nuclear power plants," she added.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS