Ambassador Andrei Kelin's interview with BBC's HARDtalk

Ambassador Andrei Kelin's interview with BBC's HARDtalk, hosted by Stephen Sackur (4 November 2024)

Key talking points:

🔸 It is a coalition of Western countries that is waging a proxy war against Russia using Ukraine. It is a hybrid war, a very serious one, and we have every right to defend ourselves with all the means at our disposal.

🔸 I don't think that there will be a compromise, it will be the endgame. It is quite clear that Ukraine will be a non-aligned, non-nuclear country with normal relations with its neighbours. It will not be a NATO member, it will be demilitarised and it will finally abolish all the racist laws that it has adopted during all these years.

🔸 Even if it happens [the deployment of the DPRK's forces in the zone of the special military operation], we have thousands of mercenaries from different [Western] countries fighting on the side of Ukraine. We have thousands of instructors teaching the Ukrainians how to deal with foreign weapons, tanks and so on, intelligence being provided to the Ukrainians.

🔸 The international community does not consist only of Western countries, it is only a tiny number of Western nations that support this kind of accusation [that Russia is considered an outlaw].

🔸 The UK government has decided to spend another 3 billion pounds on defence. That is quite a lot for a country with a huge hole in its budget. Is it a good thing? I'm not sure.

🔸 The Georgian people have elected a party that is disliked in the EU, and Brussels has started to intervene in [the internal affairs of] Georgia. Georgians now understand that the "rosy" American project that was developed with Mikhail Saakashvili in the early 2000s has failed and caused serious damage to Georgia.

[alphabogeyman]

"Your questions are longer than my answers".

[elianamckee]

The Ambassador is a lesson to all of us in class and professionalism. Thank you Ambassador.

[himiehonor]

Stephen Sackur should be left to answer his own questions since he keeps talking over the Ambassador. I wonder what school of journalism he attended...more like propaganda central at the BBC!

[Wacko-wrx]

What a disgrace the BBC has become. The British public should be ashamed of this nonsense and stop funding it. Disrespectful interviewer who talks over his guest, argues with the guest rather than letting the guest reply.

[Sadovnik-XC]

Феноменальная, очевидная и неприкрытая беспринципность.
И эти люди были кому-то примером и ориентиром...
Нужно больше таких интервью.
Что бы для большего кол-ва людей становилось это очевидным.
Господин посол, браво.

[reginaldpoofta]

"What gives you the right to run operations in all sovereigncountries" - it seems like Stephen needs a lesson on how CIA and MI6 conducts all kinds of "operations" around the globe. What gives them the right to do it???

[maximusfreeman]

How shameful! how Is this journalism?
The ambassador's ability to remain composed throughout and not show him the door astounds me...

[General_Confusion]

The Ambassador does not come across as a man who in any way believes he will be on the losing side. The BBC's desperation to set the narrative rather than ask real questions is palpable.

[antoniodomene]

These BBC interviews, no matter who the journalist is, consistently adhere to the same war-driven rhetoric emanating from Downing Street. It seems that the journalist's role is reduced to merely reciting a pre-written "script" handed to them, leading to repetitive and predictable questions. This lack of genuine inquiry and critical journalism often detracts from the depth and diversity of the conversation.

What truly stands out in these interviews, however, is the composed and measured responses of Ambassador Kelin. His ability to maintain a "cold-blooded" demeanor amidst pointed and often aggressive questioning offers a fascinating insight into diplomatic poise and resilience. It is not just the content of his answers that is noteworthy, but the way he navigates the interview with calm and calculated precision, providing a stark contrast to the one-dimensional approach of the questioning.

[Kat_EVV]

Thank you for sharing the video, Embassy

[sillykittygirl]

Don’t think UK is any position to speak about Russian economy

[Desyo-wnib]

Of the ambassador's answers, I especially liked the answer, we don't care what the American says

[Helga]

Shameful level of journalism on behalf of BBC. Rude, obnoxious and biased.

[dahirdubow]

"It is hybrid war against the Russian security ". Perfect truth by the Ambassador.
Viva

[varus-fppz]

I enjoyed this "interview" - it shows how absolutely destitute the West has become

[placeswelive]

Why is a Brit worried about how Russia runs its economy?

[lassel]

Must say that Ambassador Andrei Kelin with his calmness and twinkle in his eye outmaneuvers this uneducated journalist
What is the problem with North Korean troops in Russia, other countries have nothing to do with it. However, we can ask ourselves whether the NATO troops in Kursk in Russia are legal without declaring war.

[Kat_EVV]

It is mind boggling how one can sit with the straight face as journalist, knowing how bad the economy is of the country and speculate about another country, pretending we (British) don’t have ANY issues with basic service. Medical field is down, education is collapsing, prices are unaffordable. People need answers+solutions and not from Russia or Israel or any other country!

We need our Britain back, our identity and working framework.

[SheogorathLP]

Я из России.Хотел посмотреть интервью с послом моей страны. Не увидел. Журналист перебивает, ведет монолог, изо всех сил, обвиняет и пытается дать ответы за какое же позорище. И это на BBC!!! Журналистика мертва. (((
Послу респект. "Ваши вопросы длине моих ответов"
I am from Russia. I wanted to watch an interview with the ambassador of my country. I didn't see it. The journalist interrupts, conducts a monologue, with all his might, accuses and tries to give answers for the My God, what a disgrace. And this is on the BBC!!! Journalism is dead. (((
Respect to the ambassador. "Your questions are the length of my answers"

[andrewroddy]

Okay. The interviewer asserts that his figure of 600, 000 Russian losses has been taken from Russian sources. Obituaries funerals-
When the ambassador tells him that the BBC Media Zona figure for Russian dead is something a little over 70, 000 he insists he was referring to Russian soldiers dead or wounded out of action. So he seems to be telling us that the Russians have funerals and obituaries for their wounded. It's the kind of mistake you can make in your avid thirst for confirmation bias. I think I've seen enough to get the gist.