The Government accepts a new Russian ambassador to keep diplomatic channels open with Moscow

The Government has accepted a new Russian ambassador to Spain to keep diplomatic channels open with Moscow, sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have confirmed to Europa Press. The new diplomat will thus replace Yuri Korchagin, who leaves his position in Madrid after ten years.

The same sources have explained that the Executive has granted the placet to the new Russian ambassador because, as they have justified, "it is a way of keeping diplomatic channels open" which is why the Government defends that "peace returns" after the invasion Russian in Ukraine.

"If the peace that we all want comes, it will do so through diplomacy. Spain is not going to cut any bridge to stop this war," they have stressed from Moncloa. For their part, sources from the Russian Embassy in Madrid have indicated to Europa Press that they have not yet received "official notification" from the Government.

Precisely, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation summoned on October 3 the until now Russian ambassador in Madrid, Yuri Korchagin, in protest at the annexation of four Ukrainian regions by Moscow that occurred at the beginning of the month. This call was made in coordination with other European partners, who had already summoned the Russian ambassadors over the weekend to convey this same message.

The department headed by Jose Manuel Albares insisted to the Russian diplomat that Spain does not recognize the electoral "farce" of the referendums organized by Russian occupation authorities in Donetsk, Lugansk, Jerson and Zaporiyia regions and the subsequent annexation decreed by the Russian president , Vladimir Putin. He was also assured of the firm backing of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine by the Spanish Government.

That was the second time that Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine ordered by Putin on February 24. The previous one was at the beginning of April, when it was notified of the decision to expel 27 Embassy employees, a measure to which Moscow reciprocated a month later.

Korchagin was also summoned to the Ministry's headquarters on February 23, one day before the start of the invasion, to express the protest of the Spanish Government over the decision announced by Putin to recognize the independence of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.