Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Levan S. Dzhagaryan, affirmed Russia’s support for Sri Lanka’s bid for BRICS membership while emphasizing that the final decision would be made through consensus among member nations.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Russian Embassy in Colombo to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, Ambassador Dzhagaryan stated that Russia, no longer holding the BRICS chairmanship, will review Sri Lanka’s application alongside other prospective members.
The Ambassador also praised Sri Lanka’s neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and expressed hope that the new government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, would maintain this approach.
On the topic of Russia’s assistance in setting up a nuclear power plant in Sri Lanka, Dzhagaryan revealed that despite multiple discussions between Rosatom State Corporation and Sri Lanka’s Atomic Energy Authority, no significant progress had been made. He stressed that it was up to the Sri Lankan government to proceed with the project, adding that Russia had provided the best proposal for nuclear energy development in the country.
Ukraine Conflict and Global Politics
Ambassador Dzhagaryan reiterated Russia’s position on the Ukraine conflict, calling for the demilitarization of Ukraine and its recognition as a neutral, non-aligned, and non-nuclear state. He also urged the West to acknowledge Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia as integral parts of Russia, while demanding the lifting of sanctions imposed by Western nations.
He welcomed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that it provided a “new window” for dialogue. However, he noted that Russia had yet to receive serious proposals from the U.S. and stressed that any negotiations must be based on equality, mutual respect, and acknowledgment of the situation on the battlefield.
Criticizing what he described as Western double standards, the Russian Ambassador questioned why the humanitarian consequences of NATO’s military actions in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and Libya were not scrutinized in the same way as Russia’s operations in Ukraine.
Dzhagaryan justified Russia’s military actions, stating that the Special Military Operation launched on February 24, 2022, was necessary. He recalled that early negotiations in Istanbul had led to an agreement that Ukraine initially accepted but later abandoned, allegedly under pressure from then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The press conference concluded with the Ambassador reaffirming Russia’s commitment to strengthening ties with Sri Lanka across multiple sectors, including energy, trade, and defense cooperation.
