Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, has issued a stark warning, stating that the German government’s policy aims to sever the entire spectrum of Russian-German relations. This statement comes in response to a series of diplomatic events that mark a significant downturn in the relations between the two countries.
Zakharova’s comments follow the recent closure of German consulates in Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, and Novosibirsk, initiated by the German authorities at the end of May. This move was a reciprocal response to Germany’s request for the closure of Russian consulates in Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Frankfurt am Main, which is to be completed by January 1, 2024.
In a statement published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Zakharova revealed that the German Foreign Ministry had also informed Moscow of its decision to close its consulates in Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, and Novosibirsk, starting December 1. This step is seen as part of a broader strategy of the German government to scale back diplomatic interaction with Russia.
The background to these closures involves a series of mass expulsions of Russian diplomatic staff in Germany, along with the initiation of a campaign of administrative and political pressure on the Russian House of Science and Culture in Berlin. These actions reflect a deteriorating diplomatic relationship and increasing tensions between the two nations.
Zakharova highlighted that these German policies deliberately complicate consular services for hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens living in Germany. From next year, consular services for these individuals will only be available at the Russian Embassy in Berlin and the Russian Consulate General in Bonn.
In response to these challenges, Moscow is taking measures to minimize the difficulties created by the German authorities for Russian citizens and Germans interested in maintaining contacts with Russia. This situation underscores the complex and evolving nature of international diplomacy, particularly in the context of heightened geopolitical tensions.
The deteriorating relationship between Russia and Germany is indicative of larger shifts in European politics and international relations, with each side taking steps that reflect their national interests and diplomatic strategies in a rapidly changing global landscape.
