Russia Renewed Its Support for Lebanon and Calls for Internal Dialogue Away from External Interference

Russian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Rudakov, stated on Saturday that cooperation between Moscow and Beirut in international forums, including the United Nations, is proceeding effectively and constructively.

Rudakov added that the current main challenge lies in how to implement disarmament mechanisms amid what he described as continued Israeli aggressions, stressing that the solution lies in the strict adherence of all parties to the peace agreements concluded between Israel and Lebanon, based on Resolution 1701.

The ambassador pointed out that Resolution 1701 enjoys broad support in Lebanon, including from Hezbollah’s leadership, which he said still requires a long path to transform from a military movement into a purely political force.

Rudakov also touched on his country’s stance toward Lebanon, praising what he called Russia’s ongoing support for Lebanon during multiple crises. He said: “Our embassy staff stood side by side with the Lebanese from the COVID-19 pandemic until the Beirut port explosion, and we also provided support to the Lebanese Armed Forces.”

He added that Moscow emphasizes enabling the Lebanese to determine their political directions independently, away from any external interference, also highlighting Russia’s role in defeating ISIS on Syrian territory and halting the expansion of terrorist groups toward Lebanese lands.

Regarding the Syrian file, Rudakov confirmed that Russia’s position on Syria’s unity, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity remains unchanged, and that the new Syrian leadership places importance on strong relations with Moscow. The Russian diplomat mentioned that previous communications between Russian and American military officials in Syria through the deconfliction mechanism proved effective in organizing operations and avoiding field incidents, noting that both sides evaluated this experience positively.