Russia hit back on Wednesday at U.S. President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech, saying it showed the United States believes it is "number one" and seeks world domination.
Obama said his country was upholding "the principle that bigger nations can't bully the small" by opposing what he called Russian aggression and supporting democracy in Ukraine. Russia, he said, was isolated and its economy was "in tatters."
See: Obama Says Western Sanctions Have Left Russian Economy 'In Tatters'
"The Americans have taken the course of confrontation and do not assess their own steps critically at all," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference.
"Yesterday's speech by the president shows that at the center of the (U.S.) philosophy is only one thing: 'We are number one and everyone else has to respect that.' ... It shows that the United States wants all the same to dominate the world and cannot merely be first among equals."
This phase would pass, Lavrov said, but added that it would take time.
"I would prefer all countries to adopt the philosophy of cooperation, not 'diktat'," he said.
Relations between Russia and the United States have sunk to their lowest level since the end of the Cold War, mainly because of Moscow's confrontation with the West over the crisis in Ukraine.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
