MOSCOW. Nov 5 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he hopes that the new foreign ambassadors in Moscow will help form a more objective and unbiased view of Russia and its policy in home countries.
"I would like to express the hope that you, dear ladies and gentlemen, will promote the formation of a more objective, unbiased view of our country and its policy in the capitals of the states you represent during your work in Russia," Putin said while receiving credentials from the ambassadors.
He added that Russia was not just ready for talks on the Ukraine conflict but held such negotiations at the very start of the conflict, when a mutually acceptable agreement "initialed by the Ukrainian side" was drafted. However, the Ukrainian side "took advice from abroad, as said by Ukrainian officials, and rejected the agreement," Putin said.
"The essentially hostile course of certain Western nations towards an escalation and dragging out of the Ukraine conflict, aimed to inflict a strategic defeat on our country, is deeply erroneous. Only those who do not know and do not want to know Russia's history and disregard the unity, fortitude and cohesion of the Russian people can make such illusory plans," he said.