The West has declared a hybrid war on Russia, the consequences of which will be felt by everyone without exception, the Russian foreign minister said on Saturday, Ednews reports citing Anadolu Agency.
Speaking at a meeting of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy (SVOP) in Moscow Oblast, Sergey Lavrov said that it was difficult to say how long this hybrid war would last.
"The collective West has declared a total hybrid war on us, and it is difficult to predict how long it will last, but it is clear that everyone will feel the consequences without exception," the minister said.
Russia did everything to avoid a direct collision but accepted the challenges, including the challenge of sanctions, the minister added.
"We are no stranger to sanctions, they have almost always been in one form or another," he noted.
Lavrov expressed surprise at how easily the West abandoned fundamental values, authorizing "any hostile actions" against Russia, including "direct robbery."
However, by violating legal norms to punish Russia, the West destroyed itself, and its reputation of being the idol of freedom and democracy, he said, adding that through the "predatory actions," Western countries have dispelled the impression of reliable partners.
Lavrov criticized attempts to recruit Russian diplomats abroad, as well as their mass expulsion, saying that there were no such precedents, even during the Cold War.
He said that no diplomats had forsaken the country, despite such attempts being made from abroad, as well as inside the country, he said.