Russian Embassy
Russian Ambassador on the cable breaks: “We get blamed for everything”
Wolfgang Hansson
Published 2025-02-05 20.19
The relationship between Sweden and Russia is currently bad, says the Russian ambassador.
He firmly denies that his country is behind the cable breaks that have recently occurred in the Baltic Sea.
– As far as I know, there is no evidence against Russia. But now we get blamed for everything, says Sergeij Beljaev in an exclusive interview with Aftonbladet.
Beljaev is new to his post. He is in his third month as Stockholm ambassador. I interview him at the Russian embassy on Kungsholmen with a view of Riddarfjärden through the thin, drawn curtains where a pale winter sun occasionally shines into the grand room.
He himself pours us black tea from a thermos. The samovar in the window seems mostly an ornament. There are various cakes and sweets on the table, but they remain untouched.
The ambassador is impeccably dressed in a dark suit and polka-dotted blue tie.
“Nothing to do with it”
I ask if Russia is behind the repeated damage to submarine cables in the Baltic Sea. The suspect ships have in common that they came from Russian ports.
The answer is hardly a surprise.
– No, we have nothing to do with it. Despite the incidents receiving so much attention in the Western media, I have not yet seen any evidence of Russian involvement. Some of the ships belong to China.
– No matter what happens now, Russia is pointed out as guilty even if there is no evidence.
He adds with an ironic edge.
– Because who else would it be?
The ambassador believes that it is highly unclear whether it is really sabotage.
– It is difficult to know whether it was done on purpose. In Russia we have a saying that incompetence and malicious intent are almost the same thing. This far north the climate is different. Ships that are used to sailing in warmer waters do not always know how to behave in these conditions. It can be dangerous.
“Doesn’t threaten Sweden”
Beljaev believes that relations between Sweden and Russia are currently really bad.
– I wouldn’t say they are at an absolute rock bottom because there have been times when they were even worse. But they are at a low level. Today, it’s mainly about keeping diplomatic channels open.
Does Sweden have any reason to fear a military attack from Russia?
– No, the ambassador replies. Russia does not threaten Sweden. We have never had any intentions of attacking Sweden. It’s a shame that you joined NATO and it was surprising that it wasn’t preceded by a referendum. But it’s your right to decide for yourself.
A clear answer that partly differs from the former ambassador Viktor Tatarintsev’s when I interviewed him three years ago. At that time, the message was that Russia reserved the right to take “military strategic measures” against Sweden if we joined NATO.
Sweden a special area
Today, Sweden is a NATO member that is very dependent on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Perhaps Moscow therefore considers it pointless to make new threats. Better to use other methods. Säpo states that hybrid warfare against Sweden is increasing and points out two main actors, Russia and China.
Does Russia consider Sweden an enemy?
– No. But we must take into account that Sweden is part of a military alliance that is getting closer and closer to our border and that openly says that Russia is the main enemy.
He leans forward before continuing:
– Sweden’s NATO membership has not made the situation in the region more stable or secure. On the contrary, tension is constantly increasing. Which is no
The ambassador believes that Sweden, through its membership in NATO, can no longer make independent decisions.
– When it comes to NATO operations, decisions are made in Washington or Brussels and Sweden is forced to participate.
Although Beljaev has only been here for a few months, Sweden is within his area of expertise. He has served at the Russian embassy in Finland for four terms and has visited Sweden many times as a diplomat.
Never angry or upset
He speaks slowly and thoughtfully in slightly broken English but has no problem making himself understood. He is a cautious man and does not express any emotions, unlike his predecessor. No question makes him angry or upset.
Do you think that US President Donald Trump will be able to bring about negotiations between Russia and Ukraine that will lead to an end to the war?
– I wish Trump well. Whether he succeeds depends on his attitude and what his goals are. We hear a lot of things. But what matters is what is done. There have been occasions in the past when the relationship between our countries has led to dangerous situations.
He takes the Cuban Missile Crisis as an example.
– That time, the leaders were wise enough to avoid a military confrontation and instead resume dialogue. We see that many domestic policy changes are being implemented under Trump. We assume that this will also affect foreign policy. How remains to be seen. But Russia is always ready for dialogue.
Indirect threat of nuclear weapons
But the ambassador says that if Russia is to join peace talks, they must be serious.
– We do not just want a temporary ceasefire so that Ukraine can build up its forces and then start the fighting again.
The other day, Putin questioned the legitimacy of the Ukrainian president because his term of office has expired and no new elections have been held. Belyaev takes up the same topic.
– The question is whether Zelenskyj's signature on a peace document is legitimate, he says.
During the almost three years that the war has been going on, Russia's leaders have repeatedly indirectly threatened with nuclear weapons.
Is Russia prepared to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine?
– We have a new military doctrine on when we can use nuclear weapons. It is in a situation where the existence of Russia as a state is threatened. There are many discussions about nuclear weapons. But you should only listen to what the president, the foreign minister and the defense minister say. Everyone else is just expressing their personal opinions.
How has the war affected Russia?
– It may come as a surprise to you in the West, but Russia has become stronger and more united. In difficult times when we are under threat from an external enemy, the Russian people unite. That is how we function. Opinion polls show that 80 percent of Russians support Putin.
Have the international sanctions affected Russia?
– Yes, but not in the way that those who imposed them had in mind. We live in a multipolar world. We have expanded our cooperation with Asia and Latin America. We are developing our relations with African and Arab countries. When Western companies have left Russia, countries such as China and Indonesia have invested instead.
“There is plenty of butter”
According to the ambassador, this has had the positive effect that Russia is now producing more of its own food and has increased imports from friendly neighbors like Belarus.
The ambassador rejects the idea that sanctions have led to a shortage of goods.
– During my short time here, I have read in Swedish newspapers that the Russian economy is so bad that there is no butter in the stores.
He smiles a little wryly at the information.
– That is not true. I visited Moscow ten days ago to pick up my dog. I live in a completely ordinary residential area in southern Moscow and I traveled by bus through parts of the countryside. There was plenty of butter in all the stores I visited. Nor could I see that there was any shortage of other goods.
Belyaev also issues a warning to companies in the West.
– It will not be easy for them to come back to Russia when and if the situation normalizes. Other companies have taken over. There is also a lack of trust between Russia and the West.
Does Russia in any way regret invading Ukraine?
The ambassador begins his answer by trying to correct me.
– It was not an invasion. The operation was aimed at creating peace in Donbass (Eastern Ukraine).
To be sure that I have not misheard or misunderstood the answer, I ask if he really means that Russia did not invade Ukraine.
– It was not an invasion, is the answer again. We lean on the UN Charter, which says that all pe
When Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, one of his main arguments was that Russia wanted to de-Nazify Ukraine. Which sounds strange because President Zelensky is Jewish.
Why is Russia using soldiers from North Korea?
– We have enough of our own soldiers. But we have developed strong cooperation with North Korea. They want to become a modern army, and it is important for them to gain combat experience. We sent all our officers in batches to Syria when we started our operation there, so that they could gain combat experience.
Over 12 000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine during the war. How does that affect you personally?
– Many people have died in Donbass as well, ever since 2014. Unfortunately, civilians are also dying in Ukraine. But Russian troops have orders to avoid firing on civilian targets.
Something they obviously do not follow, considering all the thousands of residential buildings, hospitals and schools that have been shelled by Russia.
In 2005,Vladimir Putin called the collapse of the Soviet Union the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the century. Du you miss the Soviet Union yourself?
– I agree that the fall of the Soviet Union was a great tragedy. It has led to a series of regional conflicts flaring up, for example in Moldova and Ukraine. But history cannot be changed in retrospect. We must try to look ahead and build good relations with former Soviet republics as we have done with Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and many other countries. Relations that strengthen our common security.
Before we leave, the ambassador tells us that he appreciates life in Sweden. He likes Gamla Stan, but also likes to move around the outskirts of Stockholm. The other week he visited Gustavsberg and learned about the history of porcelain manufacturing.
– I also like Swedish authors like Fredrik Backman. Especially his books “A man named Ove” and “Björnstad”.
A firm handshake later, we leave Russian territory and roll out through the double security gates.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar