\u2026. pledges military cooperation<\/p>\n
By Favour Ulebor, Abuja<\/p>\n
The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyelyshev, has dismissed reports that Nigerians are being conscripted to fight in Ukraine, insisting that there is no government\u2011supported programme to recruit Nigerians for the war.<\/p>\n
The clarification was made on Tuesday, during a press briefing in Abuja where the ambassador also outlined ongoing and planned military and economic cooperation between Russia and Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Replying to questions from journalists, Ambassador Podyelyshev said: \u201cIf some illegal people are trying to recruit Nigerians to fight in Ukraine, this is not connected with the Russian state. If anybody has information, we are ready to send it to Russian law enforcement authorities for investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
He highlighted existing agreements on military\u2011technical cooperation, including discussions on the training of Nigerian military personnel and possible supply of Russian equipment, adding that \u201csome projects have already started, some are under consideration. We are ready to develop cooperation as much as the Nigerian side wishes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ambassador stressed that Nigeria remains a key partner for Russia in Africa, saying: \u201cCooperation with Nigeria largely shapes our prospects in West Africa. Nigeria is a potential anchor of regional stability and development.\u201d<\/p>\n
On broader global issues, Ambassador Podyelyshev reiterated Russia\u2019s vision of a multipolar world order, respect for sovereignty and civilisational diversity, and opposition to unilateral domination.<\/p>\n
He said Russia also supports African solutions to African problems and rejects external coercion in other states\u2019 internal affairs.<\/p>\n
The briefing also touched on economic and educational ties between the two countries, including plans for a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology in Nigeria and expanded scholarship opportunities for Nigerian students in Russian universities.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Podyelyshev noted that Russia and Nigeria are committed to long\u2011term strategic cooperation, encompassing security, trade, and shared diplomatic goals on the international stage.
\nThe post Russia denies recruiting Nigerians to fight in Ukraine appeared first on Vanguard News.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2026. pledges military cooperation By Favour Ulebor, Abuja The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyelyshev, has dismissed reports that Nigerians … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[19],"class_list":["post-6578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-african-news","tag-general-africa-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n