Russia can help African states to maintain their national security and meet their needs in the humanitarian sphere, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Russian media, adding that Moscow is intending to develop multifaceted mutually beneficial cooperation with African countries in every possible way.
According to Lavrov, the main difference between Russia and the West is that Moscow never preaches to its foreign partners, including on the African continent, about how to live.
"We have no hidden agenda. We do not apply 'double standards'. We build our interstate cooperation on the principles of international law, equality, mutual respect and consideration for interests," the top diplomat stated.
He argued that not only African nations, but "all normal countries" are impressed by such an approach.
Lavrov pointed out that the United States and its allies are going to great lengths to isolate Moscow internationally, through the contrary route of applying pressure and threats towards other nations.
Furthermore, in support of his argument, the Russian minister accused Washington of trying to disrupt the second Russia-Africa summit by urging countries into withdrawing their participation.
"Indeed, the United States and its allies are doing all they can to isolate Russia internationally. For example, they are trying to torpedo the second Russia-Africa Summit scheduled to take place in St Petersburg in late July. They are trying to dissuade our African friends from taking part in it," Lavrov told Russian media.
According to Russia's top diplomat, most African countries have no desire to "sacrifice their vital interests for Washington and its henchmen and to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for the former colonial powers."
"Attempts to undermine our cooperation with the states of the global South and East will persist, although their success is far from guaranteed," Lavrov added.
The second Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum are scheduled for 26 to 29 July in the Russian city of St Petersburg. The event was held for the first time on 22 to 24 October 2019 in Sochi under the motto "For Peace, Security and Development".