During a meeting with students, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced, "If bases are deployed on the territory of Finland and Sweden, or rather, if a decision to create bases is made for them, I am convinced that the Americans will have the main word … Depending on how all this materializes, of course, we will make a decision to strengthen our capabilities in northwestern Russia. In any case, the line of contact with NATO will radically increase."

Russia expects objective assessment of situation at ZNPP from IAEA

Speaking on the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP), Lavrov expressed Russia's expectation of an objective assessment of the situation at the site from experts sent by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He stressed, "We expect objectivity. Although all the others who are involved in this visit in one way or another, with its preparation and attempts to make it difficult, they clearly do not want the IAEA mission to draw objective conclusions," while adding that Russia considers all measures to ensure safety at the ZNPP and let IAEA experts do their work. 

The IAEA experts mission, which is headed by Director General Rafael Grossi, arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday to inspect the power plant, which has been shelled over and over by the Ukrainian military. Last Tuesday, the Ukrainian forces launched a missile attack on Enerhodar near the ZNPP, using a minimum of 20 large-caliber artillery shells. The nuclear power plant is Europe's largest, and an accident will have dire consequences; a nuclear disaster whose effect will live on generations, to say the least. 

A referendum regarding the status of Zaparozhye and Berdiansk, both of which have been liberated by the Russian armed forces over the Ukraine war, is set to be held in September. However, the exact date will be disclosed at a later time, Berdiansk mayor Alexander Saulenko told reporters on Wednesday.

Attack on Transnistria is an attack on Russia 

Lavrov stressed that Moldova should understand that any action against peacekeepers in Transnistria will be considered an attack on Russia itself, "Everyone must understand that any action that will endanger the security of our military personnel will be considered, in accordance with international law, as an attack on the Russian Federation."

Russia should not close borders after EU’s decision on visas 

According to Lavrov, Russia should not close its borders in response to the EU's decision to restrict the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens, as EU member states reached a unison agreement to suspend EU-Russia visa facilitation processes and convened to prepare on what to do with the existing visas for Russians.

To the students, Lavrov disclosed, "I believe that in response to these Schengen walls that are now being built, we do not need to close, we do not need to take reciprocal measures, collectively punish citizens of European countries."