Russia's National Interests Are Above All Else

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev made significant statements on the 18th anniversary of the 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict. Medvedev emphasized that in 2008, Russia protected the people of Abkhazia and South Ossetia despite the hysteria of the West and provided the residents of the republics with the opportunity to live in prosperity. Medvedev stated that Russia does not care about the attitude of the collective West, pointing to France's constructive steps to resolve the crisis in 2008. However, he noted that nowadays, Western diplomacy has completely lost its reputation as a tool for resolving political crises, with the most striking example being the Minsk agreements, which aim to pump arms into Ukraine.

However, there is another international community, the global majority: China, India, the countries of the Global South, our BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization partners. Their attitude is important to us, and we are in constructive dialogue with them. But ultimately, Russia's national interests are above all else.

Medvedev said that the West once supported Saakashvili and now supports Vladimir Zelensky, but when the situation is equalized, it will turn its back on him, just as it did with Saakashvili.