Moscow has called on the United States to shift its focus from global geopolitical issues, such as the war in Ukraine, to addressing internal matters, particularly allegations against rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs.
In an interview with RT, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova questioned the U.S.’s prioritization of international conflicts over domestic issues, following federal charges against the music mogul for alleged involvement in a criminal sex trafficking ring.
Zakharova’s comments come in the wake of federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges, as well as a class-action lawsuit filed against Combs.
The allegations accuse the rap artist of orchestrating a sex trafficking ring, leading to widespread media coverage.
While the charges have sparked significant attention in the U.S., Zakharova suggested that the American government’s focus on punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine is misplaced.
“Perhaps the U.S. should step away from global issues for a second, forget about Russia, forget about the [International Criminal Court] and for once redirect all of its resources and all of its pompous exceptionalism towards themselves,” Zakharova told RT.
The statement was a pointed critique of U.S. foreign policy, with Zakharova implying that Washington should prioritize investigating its own societal problems before intervening in international affairs.
Putin’s ICC Arrest Warrant
Zakharova’s remarks also referenced the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, issued in March 2023, which accuses the Russian leader of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children to Russia amid the ongoing war.
While the U.S. is not a signatory to the court’s founding statute and has not formally participated in the ICC’s processes, Moscow’s frustration with international pressure has been a recurring theme in its diplomatic communications.
The spokeswoman’s comments come at a time when U.S.-Russia relations remain deeply strained.
Moscow has repeatedly denounced U.S. military support for Ukraine and the extensive sanctions regime targeting Russia’s economy, emphasizing that these measures have done little to bring peace but have worsened global tensions.
“Hypocrisy” and Conspiracy Allegations
Zakharova also took the opportunity to criticize the U.S. government, alleging hypocrisy in its handling of domestic issues while acting as a global moral authority.
She argued that Washington’s response to the sex trafficking allegations surrounding Diddy exposes the double standards that the U.S. projects in its foreign policy.
“It was a coordinated operation, something like a mafia structure, that brought together people from show business, politics, and government.
They covered for each other [and] exchanged services,” Zakharova claimed during her interview. She provided no evidence for her statements, but suggested that Washington’s political establishment was complicit in the scandal.
“The police couldn’t have been unaware, the FBI must have known, the White House too — everyone knew,” she added, insinuating a broad cover-up within the U.S. government.
Moscow’s Persistent Criticism of U.S. Policies
Zakharova’s remarks are part of a broader narrative Moscow has cultivated, accusing the U.S. of meddling in the affairs of other nations while neglecting its own problems.
This approach aligns with Russia’s ongoing efforts to undermine U.S. influence globally, particularly in light of Washington’s involvement in supporting Ukraine during the war.
While the accusations against Diddy have become a domestic headline in the U.S., Russia’s Foreign Ministry appears to be using the scandal as an opportunity to underscore what it perceives as American hypocrisy on the world stage.
By linking the allegations to a wider conspiracy involving U.S. political elites, Zakharova sought to further cast doubt on the moral authority the U.S. wields in its international relations, particularly concerning Russia and China.
As the investigation into Combs continues, Zakharova’s comments signal Moscow’s ongoing efforts to shift the focus from its own actions in Ukraine to internal issues facing the U.S.