UPDATE - Russia warns Canada’s path toward escalating tensions could lead to 'irreversible consequences'

ADDS ZAKHAROVA'S REMARKS ABOUT ANTALYA DIPLOMACY FORUM

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday that Canada’s path toward escalating tensions with Moscow could lead to "irreversible consequences."

Answering a question from Anadolu at a press briefing in Moscow, Zakharova said Russia would respond if Canada takes steps affecting Russian diplomatic property in the North American country.

"We are aware of calls from certain radical or radically minded political and public figures in Canada. They are proposing various measures to pressure us, including interfering with diplomatic property or Russian foreign institutions, even going so far as to completely close them," she said.

She added that there are people "who want to completely sever contacts" between Russia and Canada.

"Ottawa must understand that this path toward escalation will lead to further destructive scenarios and irreversible consequences in bilateral relations, which have already been considerably damaged by Canadian actions," Zakharova stressed.

She said Moscow would give "an adequate response," which may be "reciprocal, symmetrical, or asymmetrical," depending on Canada’s actions.

Since 2022, relations between Russia and Canada have faced their most serious crisis in history. Ottawa has consistently supported tightening sanctions, including the largest package in June 2025, which targeted the "shadow fleet" and Russia's energy and financial sectors.

Canada is also increasing its military presence in Latvia as part of strengthening NATO's eastern flank, while in the Arctic, the two countries have engaged in sharp rhetoric over sovereignty and militarization.

In 2025, an unprecedented incident occurred when Canada confiscated a Russian An-124 aircraft and handed it to Ukraine, an action Moscow called illegal and unacceptable.

Bill S-278, "An Act to amend the Special Economic Measures Act," is under consideration in the Canadian Senate. It would allow the government to confiscate property belonging to a foreign state that has already been frozen.

Turning to the Munich Security Conference held in Germany on Feb. 13-15, Zakharova criticized the event, arguing that it has been losing its standing as a respected international platform for addressing global issues, particularly in comparison to other emerging forums.

"The Munich Conference is not only noticeably 'sagging' but is already beginning to lose out in certain parameters to such venues as the Minsk Conference on Eurasian Security, the Sir Bani Yas Forum (UAE), the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (Türkiye) and the Doha Forum (Qatar)," she said.

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum is an annual conference on international diplomacy held in Antalya, Türkiye since 2021. The forum brings together policymakers, diplomats and academics to exchange ideas and perspectives on diplomacy, policy and business.