🎙Video address by President of Russia Vladimir Putin on 70th anniversary of Baikonur Space Centre (June 2, 2025)
💬 Mr. President Tokayev, Russian and Kazakh friends, employees and veteran workers of the Baikonur Space Centre.
I extend my heartfelt greetings on this momentous occasion, the 70th anniversary of the legendary Baikonur Space Centre.
It was on June 2, 1955, that a historic state decision marked the beginning of a unique rocket testing site in the Soviet Union – destined to become the world’s first spaceport.
Just a decade after the end of the Great Patriotic War, the multiethnic Soviet nation, having endured immense tragedy and devastating losses, achieved the remarkable. The Soviet people not only rebuilt cities and towns from the ruins and ignited powerful economic and technological progress, but also took a bold leap into the future, launching visionary and ambitious plans that opened the path to space, to the stars.
The creation of Baikonur, along with the entire space programme, stands as a true feat, a testament to courage, determination, and heroic spirit. We honour the monumental, selfless labour of the hundreds of thousands from all the republics of the Union who envisioned, designed, and built Baikonur, and who worked at the cosmodrome from its earliest days.
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It was here, at Baikonur, that the countdown to a new era in human history began – where dreams took flight and became reality. From this very site, in 1957, the R-7 rocket carried the first artificial satellite into orbit, and on April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin launched from Baikonur to become the first human to journey around the Earth in space.
The history of Baikonur is rich with remarkable milestones. Among them are the pioneering flight of the first female cosmonaut, Valentina Tereshkova, in 1963; the launch of the world’s first manned orbital station, Salyut-1, in 1971; and the historic liftoff of the reusable spacecraft Buran in 1988. It was also from Baikonur that the Zarya module was launched in 1998, ushering in the construction of the International Space Station, which continues to operate in orbit to this day.
Baikonur has witnessed more than 2,500 launches and has sent over 200 cosmonauts into orbit. From its launch pads, representatives of numerous countries have embarked on space missions, many of them scientists conducting groundbreaking experiments and advancing both fundamental and applied research.
It is fitting that the space centre was named Baikonur, meaning “rich land” in Kazakh. Indeed, its contribution to international scientific and technological progress is immense, truly rich in every sense, and beyond measure.
Baikonur remains one of the largest and most advanced spaceports in the world. With a workforce of around seven thousand, this versatile complex plays an active role in the space programmes of Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and numerous other countries.
🇷🇺🤝🇰🇿 Baikonur also stands as a powerful symbol of the strategic partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan. Dozens of treaties and agreements have been signed between our nations, governing all aspects of the cosmodrome’s operations and the administration of the city of Baikonur.
Baikonur stands as a vivid example of how cooperation and integration can serve the mutual interests of both Russia and Kazakhstan, enhancing their international standing and reinforcing their leadership in science, innovation, and various high-tech sectors.
Russia will continue to make significant efforts to support the development of the city of Baikonur and to ensure the wellbeing of its residents, both Russian and Kazakh citizens. The active operation of the space centre and the creation of favourable conditions for its continued use remain among our top priorities.
I wish you good health and continued success in advancing our national space industry and in strengthening the partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan.
Once again, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on this memorable anniversary.
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#RussiaKazakhstan
🗓 On April 15, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovopened a comprehensive exhibition "Anniversary Year: from Mexico to Argentina" at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation timed to coincide with the anniversaries of establishing diplomatic relations with a large group of Latin American states: Argentina (140 years), Mexico (135 years), Colombia (90 years), Bolivia, Venezuela, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Ecuador (80 years), Honduras (35 years), the 65th anniversary of re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba. The exhibition is also dedicated to the history and present of Russia - Latin America cooperation.
Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Moscow, as well as academic, business and media circles were invited to attend the event.
📑 Exhibition visitors seized the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the copies of documents from the Foreign Policy Archive of the Russian Federation on the establishment of relations with the above-mentioned states, as well as with materials demonstrating the development of multifaceted cooperation with the countries of the region in the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
An individual display was dedicated to the contribution of Latin American and Caribbean states to the fight against Nazism during the World War II.
Artists from the Association for the Promotion of Culture and Art called Creative Union contributed to the design of the exposition, whose picturesque exhibits suggest images of the celebrating countries through paintings of animals and plants.
#RussiaLatinAmerica
🇷🇺🇵🇦 March 29 marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relationsbetween Russia and Panama
Bilateral ties have a much longer history though: consular and trade relations were first established in November 1903, when the Russian Empire recognised the independence of the Central American state almost immediately after it was declared.
Following the formation of the USSR, Panama closed its existing consulates in our country, although the two nations continued to maintain diverse and mutually beneficial cooperation.
During World War II, Panama joined the Allied Powers, demonstrating solidarity in the fight against Nazism.
#Victory81: One of the most significant episodes in the history of bilateral relations was the passage of a Soviet submarine squadron through the Panama Canal in November-December 1942. The aim was to help protect the Allied Arctic convoys, which supplied military equipment and goods to the USSR via the North Atlantic under the Lend-Lease programme. This support underscored the friendly and cooperative relations between the USSR and Panama, as well as their unity in the shared fight against Nazism.
🤝 Today, cooperation between our countries is grounded in the provisions of the 1997 Treaty on the Principles of Relations and Cooperation, as well as the preceding Declaration of the same name signed in 1994 during a visit to Moscow by Panama’s Foreign Minister José Raúl Mulino, who now serves as the country’s President.
#Panamais a promising trade and economic partner for Russia, with its unique geographical location and well-developed trade and financial infrastructure.
💬 Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova during her weekly briefing (March 25, 2026):
“The Russian-Panamanian ties have much potential. Its implementation is consistently achieved through a constructive political dialogue, promotion of inter-parliamentary and inter-agency contacts, and expansion of scientific, educational and academic exchanges and cultural-humanitarian cooperation as a whole.”
🎉 Congratulations to our colleagues and the people of Panama on this shared occasion! We wish you well-being, prosperity, and success.
#RussiaPanama#RussiaLatinAmerica
🇷🇺🇵🇦 March 29 marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relationsbetween Russia and Panama
Bilateral ties have a much longer history though: consular and trade relations were first established in November 1903, when the Russian Empire recognised the independence of the Central American state almost immediately after it was declared.
Following the formation of the USSR, Panama closed its existing consulates in our country, although the two nations continued to maintain diverse and mutually beneficial cooperation.
During World War II, Panama joined the Allied Powers, demonstrating solidarity in the fight against Nazism.
#Victory81: One of the most significant episodes in the history of bilateral relations was the passage of a Soviet submarine squadron through the Panama Canal in November-December 1942. The aim was to help protect the Allied Arctic convoys, which supplied military equipment and goods to the USSR via the North Atlantic under the Lend-Lease programme. This support underscored the friendly and cooperative relations between the USSR and Panama, as well as their unity in the shared fight against Nazism.
🤝 Today, cooperation between our countries is grounded in the provisions of the 1997 Treaty on the Principles of Relations and Cooperation, as well as the preceding Declaration of the same name signed in 1994 during a visit to Moscow by Panama’s Foreign Minister José Raúl Mulino, who now serves as the country’s President.
#Panamais a promising trade and economic partner for Russia, with its unique geographical location and well-developed trade and financial infrastructure.
💬 Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova during her weekly briefing (March 25, 2026):
“The Russian-Panamanian ties have much potential. Its implementation is consistently achieved through a constructive political dialogue, promotion of inter-parliamentary and inter-agency contacts, and expansion of scientific, educational and academic exchanges and cultural-humanitarian cooperation as a whole.”
🎉 Congratulations to our colleagues and the people of Panama on this shared occasion! We wish you well-being, prosperity, and success.
#RussiaPanama#RussiaLatinAmerica
🇬🇩 On February 7, #Grenada is celebrating its #IndependenceDay.
Originally inhabited by Carib Indians, the island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498. Until 1651, the indigenous people rebuffed the attacks by European colonisers, and even after the island had been taken over by the French, their spirit of independence endured. Proud and freedom-loving, the Caribs refused to submit, and entire tribes, including women and children, threw themselves from cliffs, choosing death over subjugation.
The island later came under British rule, with Great Britain bringing in slaves from Africa in an attempt to quell the native people’s resistance.
The Grenadian people’s long and arduous path to liberation from British colonial rule culminated in April 1974, when the country joined the Caribbean Community (#CARICOM) and was admitted to the UN in September.
Once on the path of independence and socioeconomic progress, Grenada took in stride the challenges it faced, including the US military intervention in 1983, when the United States, in its customary heavy-handed manner, interfered in the internal affairs of the sovereign Grenadian state, seeking to impose a forced change of political leadership and effectively occupy the country.
Despite ongoing external pressure, Grenada continues to pursue a sovereign foreign policy acting as a respected and independent member of CARICOM and consistently advocating for the Caribbean to remain a zone of peace. The country is also deepening mutually beneficial cooperation with regional countries, as well as with its numerous partners in Asia and Africa as part of South-South cooperation.
🤝 Diplomatic relations between our countries were established in 1979. They were severed following the US intervention and occupation of Grenada in 1983, but restored in 2002. Today, Russia’s interests in Grenada are represented on a non-resident basis by the Russian Embassy in Guyana. Grenada remains a reliable partner of the Russian Federation in the Caribbean region.
📆 September 24, 2025 marked an important milestone in Russia-Grenada relations. On the margins of the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Grenadian counterpart Joseph Andall signed the Agreement on the Basic Principles of Relations between our countries, opening the way to expanded bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
🎉 We wish a happy national holiday to our Grenadian colleagues and the people of Grenada. We wish them peace, prosperity and continued success.
#RussiaGrenada#RussiaLatinAmerica
🗓 Today, on June 5, the XXVII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum has kicked off. The main theme of the event is "The Formation of New Areas of Growth as the Cornerstone of a Multipolar World".
Over the years, the Forum has become the world's leading platform for the business community to communicate and discuss key economic issues facing Russia, emerging markets and the world as a whole.
👨💼👩💼 More than 17,100 people from 136 countries and territories, as well as 3,400 media representatives are participating in SPIEF-2024.
The plenary session of the Forum will traditionally be addressed by Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who has previously sent greeting to the participants, organisers and guests of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The SPIEF-2024 business programme consists of four thematic tracks:
🔹 The Transition to a Multipolar World Economy;
🔹 Goals and Objectives of Russia’s New Economic Cycle;
🔹 Technologies for Leadership;
🔹 A Healthy Society, Traditional Values and Social Development: The Priority of the State.
The programme includes more than 150 thematic sessions with over 1,000 moderators and speakers.
In addition, events organised by the Russian Foreign Ministry will traditionally take place on the margins of the SPIEF:
• On June 7, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold a briefing, as well as a session on "International and National Experiences of Artificial Intelligence Regulation: Best Practices";
• On June 8, The International Affairs, a magazine published by the Foreign Ministry, will hold a debate titled "Polycentricity: The Norm of a Future World without Colonies and Hegemons".
🤝 The programme of events of the SPIEF-2024 international track includes more than 10 business dialogues, including formats EAEU-ASEAN, #RussiaAfrica, #RussiaLatinAmerica, #RussiaChina, #RussiaSouthAfrica, #RussiaKazakhstan, #RussiaIndia, #RussiaIran, #RussiaBrazil and other bilateral meetings.
The forum will last until June 8.
#SPIEF2024
🗓 Today, on June 5, the XXVII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum has kicked off. The main theme of the event is "The Formation of New Areas of Growth as the Cornerstone of a Multipolar World".
Over the years, the Forum has become the world's leading platform for the business community to communicate and discuss key economic issues facing Russia, emerging markets and the world as a whole.
👨💼👩💼 More than 17,100 people from 136 countries and territories, as well as 3,400 media representatives are participating in SPIEF-2024.
The plenary session of the Forum will traditionally be addressed by Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who has previously sent greeting to the participants, organisers and guests of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The SPIEF-2024 business programme consists of four thematic tracks:
🔹 The Transition to a Multipolar World Economy;
🔹 Goals and Objectives of Russia’s New Economic Cycle;
🔹 Technologies for Leadership;
🔹 A Healthy Society, Traditional Values and Social Development: The Priority of the State.
The programme includes more than 150 thematic sessions with over 1,000 moderators and speakers.
In addition, events organised by the Russian Foreign Ministry will traditionally take place on the margins of the SPIEF:
• On June 7, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold a briefing, as well as a session on "International and National Experiences of Artificial Intelligence Regulation: Best Practices";
• On June 8, The International Affairs, a magazine published by the Foreign Ministry, will hold a debate titled "Polycentricity: The Norm of a Future World without Colonies and Hegemons".
🤝 The programme of events of the SPIEF-2024 international track includes more than 10 business dialogues, including formats EAEU-ASEAN, #RussiaAfrica, #RussiaLatinAmerica, #RussiaChina, #RussiaSouthAfrica, #RussiaKazakhstan, #RussiaIndia, #RussiaIran, #RussiaBrazil and other bilateral meetings.
The forum will last until June 8.
#SPIEF2024
🗓 Today, on June 5, the XXVII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum has kicked off. The main theme of the event is "The Formation of New Areas of Growth as the Cornerstone of a Multipolar World".
Over the years, the Forum has become the world's leading platform for the business community to communicate and discuss key economic issues facing Russia, emerging markets and the world as a whole.
👨💼👩💼 More than 17,100 people from 136 countries and territories, as well as 3,400 media representatives are participating in SPIEF-2024.
The plenary session of the Forum will traditionally be addressed by Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who has previously sent greeting to the participants, organisers and guests of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The SPIEF-2024 business programme consists of four thematic tracks:
🔹 The Transition to a Multipolar World Economy;
🔹 Goals and Objectives of Russia’s New Economic Cycle;
🔹 Technologies for Leadership;
🔹 A Healthy Society, Traditional Values and Social Development: The Priority of the State.
The programme includes more than 150 thematic sessions with over 1,000 moderators and speakers.
In addition, events organised by the Russian Foreign Ministry will traditionally take place on the margins of the SPIEF:
• On June 7, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold a briefing, as well as a session on "International and National Experiences of Artificial Intelligence Regulation: Best Practices";
• On June 8, The International Affairs, a magazine published by the Foreign Ministry, will hold a debate titled "Polycentricity: The Norm of a Future World without Colonies and Hegemons".
🤝 The programme of events of the SPIEF-2024 international track includes more than 10 business dialogues, including formats EAEU-ASEAN, #RussiaAfrica, #RussiaLatinAmerica, #RussiaChina, #RussiaSouthAfrica, #RussiaKazakhstan, #RussiaIndia, #RussiaIran, #RussiaBrazil and other bilateral meetings.
The forum will last until June 8.
#SPIEF2024
🗓 Today, on June 5, the XXVII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum has kicked off. The main theme of the event is "The Formation of New Areas of Growth as the Cornerstone of a Multipolar World".
Over the years, the Forum has become the world's leading platform for the business community to communicate and discuss key economic issues facing Russia, emerging markets and the world as a whole.
👨💼👩💼 More than 17,100 people from 136 countries and territories, as well as 3,400 media representatives are participating in SPIEF-2024.
The plenary session of the Forum will traditionally be addressed by Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who has previously sent greeting to the participants, organisers and guests of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The SPIEF-2024 business programme consists of four thematic tracks:
🔹 The Transition to a Multipolar World Economy;
🔹 Goals and Objectives of Russia’s New Economic Cycle;
🔹 Technologies for Leadership;
🔹 A Healthy Society, Traditional Values and Social Development: The Priority of the State.
The programme includes more than 150 thematic sessions with over 1,000 moderators and speakers.
In addition, events organised by the Russian Foreign Ministry will traditionally take place on the margins of the SPIEF:
• On June 7, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold a briefing, as well as a session on "International and National Experiences of Artificial Intelligence Regulation: Best Practices";
• On June 8, The International Affairs, a magazine published by the Foreign Ministry, will hold a debate titled "Polycentricity: The Norm of a Future World without Colonies and Hegemons".
🤝 The programme of events of the SPIEF-2024 international track includes more than 10 business dialogues, including formats EAEU-ASEAN, #RussiaAfrica, #RussiaLatinAmerica, #RussiaChina, #RussiaSouthAfrica, #RussiaKazakhstan, #RussiaIndia, #RussiaIran, #RussiaBrazil and other bilateral meetings.
The forum will last until June 8.
#SPIEF2024
🗓 Today, on June 5, the XXVII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum has kicked off. The main theme of the event is "The Formation of New Areas of Growth as the Cornerstone of a Multipolar World".
Over the years, the Forum has become the world's leading platform for the business community to communicate and discuss key economic issues facing Russia, emerging markets and the world as a whole.
👨💼👩💼 More than 17,100 people from 136 countries and territories, as well as 3,400 media representatives are participating in SPIEF-2024.
The plenary session of the Forum will traditionally be addressed by Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who has previously sent greeting to the participants, organisers and guests of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The SPIEF-2024 business programme consists of four thematic tracks:
🔹 The Transition to a Multipolar World Economy;
🔹 Goals and Objectives of Russia’s New Economic Cycle;
🔹 Technologies for Leadership;
🔹 A Healthy Society, Traditional Values and Social Development: The Priority of the State.
The programme includes more than 150 thematic sessions with over 1,000 moderators and speakers.
In addition, events organised by the Russian Foreign Ministry will traditionally take place on the margins of the SPIEF:
• On June 7, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold a briefing, as well as a session on "International and National Experiences of Artificial Intelligence Regulation: Best Practices";
• On June 8, The International Affairs, a magazine published by the Foreign Ministry, will hold a debate titled "Polycentricity: The Norm of a Future World without Colonies and Hegemons".
🤝 The programme of events of the SPIEF-2024 international track includes more than 10 business dialogues, including formats EAEU-ASEAN, #RussiaAfrica, #RussiaLatinAmerica, #RussiaChina, #RussiaSouthAfrica, #RussiaKazakhstan, #RussiaIndia, #RussiaIran, #RussiaBrazil and other bilateral meetings.
The forum will last until June 8.
#SPIEF2024