Russia wants to be recognised as a great power. But in the face of criticism over its actions in Ukraine, Syria and elsewhere, Moscow asserts that its legitimate strategic interests are being ignored and the nature of its foreign policy is deliberately misrepresented.

Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Australia HE Mr Grigory Logvinov gave a presentation on Russian foreign policy to AIIA ACT on 23 May. Editor of Australian Outlook, Cameron Steer, had the opportunity to interview him beforehand. They discussed the situation in Crimea, Russia-Australia relations, Russia’s interests in Afghanistan and the barriers to cooperation between Russia and the United States.

HE Mr Grigory S Logvinov is Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Australia. Prior to taking up his current posting in 2016, he was Ambassador-at-large for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and special envoy for Northeast Asia Security.

Interviewed by Cameron Steer, editor of Australian Outlook.