20.06.2025

"All of Europe Has Risen Against Us": Rector of RSUH on the Cancellation of Russian Language Programs in Western Universities

Andrei Loginov, Rector of RSUH, spoke at the strategic session “Dialogues with Europe: Is the Future Possible?” The event focused on Russia’s interaction with European countries in the context of the global transformation of the world order.

The session took place as part of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Among the speakers were representatives of the Eurasian Economic Commission, the “Challenge” Foundation for Scientific and Cultural Development, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, and others.

Participants discussed whether cooperation with European countries is still possible today on fair, reciprocal, open, and non-discriminatory terms, and what mechanisms and tools might enable such cooperation.

During the discussion of the complex relationship between Russia and Europe, Andrei Loginov addressed the cancellation of Russian language programs in Western universities:

‘It’s paradoxical that amid the prevailing anti-Russian agenda, Western universities have abolished the study of the Russian language and sheepishly replaced it with Ukrainian. This begs the question: how come? You’ve mobilized all of Europe against Russia and want to go to war with us! How exactly will knowledge of Ukrainian help you in your struggle with Russia, against which you aim to achieve a strategic defeat?’

At the same time, Rector Loginov emphasized that although Russia was culturally and historically different from Europe, it was very close civilizationally. According to the Rector, building a wall between us is a serious mistake.

‘Russia and Europe are independent, self-sufficient, and quite different civilizations that have historically found themselves not just as neighbors, but as part of a shared space of deep cultural dialogue, which has made them genuinely kindred to one another. Despite the temporary twists of history, our ties with Europe will recover, strengthen, and give rise to new growth,’ Loginov said.

He reminded that many Russian-born writers, artists, and thinkers, such as Igor Stravinsky, Chaim Soutine, and Alexandre Kojève, became great European figures. Conversely, many major European intellectual systems were embraced in Russia. Thinkers like Hegel, Marx, and Bergson had a profound influence on Russian civilization.