Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, participated in a session titled “Transformation of the Modern World Order: Overcoming Long-Term Challenges to International Security and Development” as part of the St. Petersburg Dialogue forum.
Leonid Slutsky noted that Russia remains part of European civilization historically, geographically, and culturally. According to him, European civilization is currently overcoming a crisis, while Europe is rejecting trends “induced from across the ocean.”
“Europe is rapidly returning to common sense. The fact that both the National Assembly and the Senate of the French Republic reject Macron’s Russophobia today, and the events that have taken place in Germany—all this indicates that Germany, which has played a key role in European politics since time immemorial, is also returning to common sense and to the traditional center of gravity of European civilization: constructive interaction with Russia.
This is happening primarily in the economic sphere, but I believe the time is not far off when Europe will once again actively cooperate with us in the political sphere as well. I am confident that the St. Petersburg Dialogue can serve as a harbinger—a kind of vanguard—in restoring public diplomacy between Russia and Europe (and primarily between Russia and Germany) regarding the future structure of European civilization and the implementation of major infrastructure projects involving Russia across all sectors. The Russian Peace Foundation will provide every possible assistance in this endeavor,” said Leonid Slutsky.
Leonid Slutsky emphasized that the resumption of the St. Petersburg Dialogue’s activities would play a key role in fostering a broad dialogue between Europe and Russia across social, intellectual, and cultural spheres. “European thinkers and their progressive perspectives are important to us—perspectives that today reject Russophobia and the trends alien to European civilization that certain figures, particularly from the previous US administration, sought to introduce into European politics and intellectual circles. And today, we are resuming the St. Petersburg Dialogue—albeit somewhat belatedly,” added Leonid Slutsky.