Russia sees no point in maintaining its previous presence in Western countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting with university graduates admitted to the diplomatic service.

"It makes no sense or desire to maintain the former presence in Western countries. Our people work in conditions that can hardly be called human. They face constant problems, threats of physical attacks. The main thing is that there is no work there ever since Europe decided to shut us out and stop any economic cooperation. You can't force someone to make nice," he said.

According to him, Asian, African and Latin American countries, on the contrary, need more attention. "Many plans are being agreed at the highest and high level, which require diplomatic accompaniment, including in terms of business support, joint cultural, humanitarian and educational projects.

The Russian Foreign Ministry is now geographically reorienting its activities both abroad and in the central office and will shift the "center of gravity" to countries that are ready to cooperate with Russia on an equal and mutually beneficial basis and look for promising joint projects," he said.