Embassy comment on the UK Foreign Secretary’s unacceptable remarks at the UN Security Council meeting

Speaking at the UN Security Council meeting on 24 September, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy once again resorted to completely unacceptable insults against Russia’s leadership. His statements reflect, firstly, a lack of familiarity with norms of conduct among states and appropriate manners, and, secondly, a poor grasp of the subject under discussion at the UN Security Council.

Regrettably, it is no longer surprising to witness the UK top diplomat’s amateurish approach to global historical processes. David Lammy’s brazen attempts to accuse Russia of “imperialism” appear patently absurd, giving the impression that he does not fully comprehend on whose behalf he speaks – whether it is the UK, with its dark legacy of brutal colonial exploitation of numerous countries, or the descendants of those who suffered under Britain’s own slave trade. This is a matter Mr Lammy should perhaps clarify for himself.

Speaking of anti-imperialist traditions, it should be noted that the Soviet Union, of which the Russian Federation is the successor state, played a pivotal role in the decolonisation process of the 20th century, providing immense support to liberation movements across many parts of the world. Even today, Russia is not merely paying lip service to the issue, as David Lammy does; it is consistently and resolutely opposing the manifestations of neocolonialism in practice.

If the UK Foreign Secretary is indeed as committed to fighting the legacy of “imperialism” as he claims, it would be advisable that he uses his time in office to reassess London’s foreign policy, currently based on the aggressive imposition of unilateral Western perspectives and false "values" around the globe under the guise of establishing a “rules-based international order.” He should pay special attention to Ukraine, which Britain and its American allies have turned into a vassal state, where human rights of the Russian-speaking population are violated, and decision-making is subordinated to the whims and donations of Western patrons. Meanwhile, cloaking their true intentions in lofty slogans about “defending Ukraine’s democracy and independence”, the West is steadily stripping the country of its assets, including its natural resources.

We are convinced that David Lammy’s hypocrisy is evident to those in the Global South who are well-acquainted with British imperialism, particularly as London now seeks to charm these nations via the efforts of its "progressive" Foreign Secretary.

As far as accusations of corruption are concerned, it is rather odd to hear such claims from British officials, especially in light of the corruption-tainted scandals that have regularly shaken the United Kingdom under both Conservative and Labour governments.