Betel told Sputnik on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly: “We have geography that we cannot change. Russia will remain a neighbor of Europe. I would like us to build these matters together, instead of exchanging fire and inciting hatred. I hate this hostility towards Russia that exists around the world.” He emphasized that he prefers to talk about lifting the sanctions imposed on Russia, saying: “We will not talk about imposing new sanctions, but we can talk about lifting them. This is my desire. I do not want to talk about new sanctions that should be imposed. I would like to be able to lift the sanctions. But at the moment, there is no such momentum.” The effects of these sanctions have also negatively impacted the countries that imposed them, leading to higher prices for electricity, fuel, and food in Europe and the United States. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that the policy of containing and weakening Russia is a long-term strategy of the West and will not be successful, pointing out that the sanctions have dealt a serious blow to the entire global economy, and that the West aims to destroy the lives of millions of people.
