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⚡️Main Foreign Policy Outcomes of 2022⚡️ The year 2022 saw history-making events, such as the emergence of a new international reality, and became a turning point for Russia’s foreign policy. 👉 The recognition of the Donetsk & Lugansk People’s Republics, the start of the Special Military Operation in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, the referendums held in the DPR & LPR and the liberated territories of the Zaporozhye & Kherson regions and their subsequent integration into Russia – these events will forever go down in the history of Russia. They put an end to 30 years of Russia’s honest attempts to develop equitable relations with the collective West. ✍️ Russia & other like-minded countries adopted a political declaration in support of the inviolability of the UN Charter. ✍️ An overwhelming majority of states members of the UN GA approved the annual Russia-initiated resolution on combating the glorification of Nazism. ✍️ At Russia’s initiative, the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the 5 Nuclear-Weapon States on Preventing Nuclear War & Avoiding Arms Races was adopted in January 2022. ✅ International cooperation within the framework of the #EAEU, #SCO & #BRICS made rapid headway. ✅ Allied relations with Belarus continued to grow stronger. ✅ Several major initiatives have been implemented within the framework of the #CIS aimed at strengthening integration ties in all spheres of the organisation’s activities. ✅ The mechanisms of the #CSTO operated efficiently. Russian diplomats have significantly stepped up efforts to achieve the peaceful settlement of international conflicts. Russia extensively supported stabilising the situation in Afghanistan. Russia has promoted a complex approach to the Syrian dossier, including within the Astana format. We have promoted comprehensive normalisation of the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We have successfully developed ties with our many international partners who are interested in maintaining a constructive dialogue with Russia. Read in full

📰 Russia's Ambassador to ASEAN Evgeny Zagaynov’s article “ASEAN–Russia Highway to a Shared Future” (The Antara News, 13 December 2025) 👉 Read in full: (The Antara News) (Telegraph) Key points: 🔹 This month marks 20 years since the first ASEAN–Russia Summit in Kuala Lumpur (13 December 2005), a milestone that set the foundations of today’s partnership. The ASEAN-Russia Joint Declaration on Progressive and Comprehensive Partnership that was adopted on that day defined the main goals and areas of our joint work for the years ahead and shaped the strategic trajectory of cooperation. 🔹 Russia’s engagement with ASEAN-led mechanisms took root in Kuala Lumpur, where President Vladimir Putin participated in the very first East Asia Summit. This paved the way for Russia’s full integration into ASEAN-centred regional architecture. 🔹 Over two decades, ASEAN–Russia relations have proven genuinely multidimensional, driven by mutual respect, shared principles, and practical cooperation across political–security, economic, and socio-cultural pillars. 🔹 The partnership continues to expand, with new mechanisms such as the ASEAN–Russia Consultations of High Representatives for Security Issues and the Dialogue on ICT Security. Russia has also become an ASEAN Digital Partner, and the first Senior Officials Meeting on digital technologies convened in Bangkok. 🔹 ASEAN–Russia trade reached record levels in 2024, growing by 13% despite an unfavourable global environment. 🔹 Cooperation in energy, biosafety, smart cities, and cutting-edge technologies is accelerating. A new MoU between the ASEAN Centre for Energy and Rosatom strengthens collaboration on peaceful nuclear energy, while the ASEAN–Russia Project on Capacity Building on Energy Statistics is underway. 🔹 People-to-people ties and expertise development remain priorities. Russia continues to expand training programmes for ASEAN specialists, with particular focus on youth cooperation. The Russian MGIMO University Master's program "Politics and Economics of the Russia-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership" saw its first graduating class in 2024. 🔹The ASEAN Centre in MGIMO has become the leading hub for expert dialogue, marking its 15th anniversary with a major international conference bringing together diplomats, scholars, analysts, and young researchers to explore new areas of cooperation. 🔹 ASEAN and Russia increasingly coordinate within wider regional and global frameworks, including #SCO, #EAEU, and #BRICS. Shared values and complementary agendas make these platforms natural spaces for deepening synergy. 🔹 Russia consistently supports ASEAN’s strategic autonomy, especially amid growing geopolitical pressures and unilateral tendencies. ASEAN’s independent voice strengthens the broader Global South and contributes to more balanced global governance. 🔹 Looking ahead, Russia and ASEAN reaffirm their commitment to a shared, prosperous future, building on two decades of cooperation and paving the way for deeper partnership in an emerging multipolar world.

📺 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’sgreetings and video message on Diplomats’ Day (February 10, 2026) 💬 Friends, Today marks Diplomats’ Day, our professional holiday. I would like to use this occasion to wish a happy holiday to all Russian diplomats who are working at the Central Office and territorial offices, and diplomats fulfilling their duty abroad. The history of Russian diplomacy spans many centuries and follows every stage of Russia becoming stronger as a state. Times change, but our spiritual and moral values — sincere, dedicated, and selfless devotion to the Fatherland, and firm commitment to the ideals of truth and justice — remain unshakeable. We are rightfully proud of the achievements of our outstanding predecessors. We honour the courage of the staff of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs who, during the tumultuous years of the Great Patriotic War, took arms to defend the Motherland. Their immortal feat stands as a benchmark for Foreign Ministry personnel and staff of subordinate institutions participating in the special military operation. Other ministerial staff members are also involved and are helping the front line soldiers and their families, and supporting those affected by crimes committed by Ukrainian neo-Nazis. Today, as we are witnessing another turning point in history, Russian diplomacy continues to do everything within its power to ensure safe and favourable external conditions for Russia’s steady domestic development and for improving the quality of life of its people. In many ways, our consistent and balanced foreign policy course sets the trajectory of global transformations, thus facilitating the emergence of a new multipolar world order. We seek to further develop honest and equitable international cooperation based on mutual understanding, trust, and neighbourliness. Following President Putin’s initiative, we are working to establish, across the Eurasian region, architecture of equal and indivisible security and extensive practical cooperation. In this context, we attach particular importance to the conclusion and implementation of bilateral agreements, including our treaties on security guarantees with Belarus and on comprehensive strategic partnership with the DPRK and Iran. We continue to expand relations across multiple areas with the World Majority, among them countries such as China, India, and other like-minded countries, our strategic partners and allies, primarily within the #CSTO, the #EAEU, and the #CIS, as well as the #SCO and #BRICS. Countering neo-colonial practices of all kinds ranging from unilateral coercive measures to military interventions remains firmly in our focus. In this context, we reaffirm our solidarity with the peoples of Venezuela and Cuba. We are convinced that only they can determine their own future. ☝️ The country’s leadership and Russian society hold our work to high standards. We are required to demonstrate discipline and dedication, as well as a passionate and creative approach to our duties. I trust that you will continue to work honourably for the good of the Fatherland and to contribute your share to addressing large-scale foreign policy goals set by the President. On this day, we express special gratitude to former ministerial employees, who taught us the fundamentals of diplomacy by their example. Many of them, to the extent of their abilities, remain active in the close-knit diplomatic ranks. By all means, I would like to separately thank all the relatives and loved ones of our employees. Your unconditional support gives us strength and keeps us focused. It is especially important for those who carry out their diplomatic service far from the Motherland. Once again, happy Diplomats’ Day to all. I wish you excellent health, well-being, and new accomplishments for the benefit of the Fatherland. #DiplomatsDay

📺 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’sgreetings and video message on Diplomats’ Day (February 10, 2026) 💬 Friends, Today marks Diplomats’ Day, our professional holiday. I would like to use this occasion to wish a happy holiday to all Russian diplomats who are working at the Central Office and territorial offices, and diplomats fulfilling their duty abroad. The history of Russian diplomacy spans many centuries and follows every stage of Russia becoming stronger as a state. Times change, but our spiritual and moral values — sincere, dedicated, and selfless devotion to the Fatherland, and firm commitment to the ideals of truth and justice — remain unshakeable. We are rightfully proud of the achievements of our outstanding predecessors. We honour the courage of the staff of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs who, during the tumultuous years of the Great Patriotic War, took arms to defend the Motherland. Their immortal feat stands as a benchmark for Foreign Ministry personnel and staff of subordinate institutions participating in the special military operation. Other ministerial staff members are also involved and are helping the front line soldiers and their families, and supporting those affected by crimes committed by Ukrainian neo-Nazis. Today, as we are witnessing another turning point in history, Russian diplomacy continues to do everything within its power to ensure safe and favourable external conditions for Russia’s steady domestic development and for improving the quality of life of its people. In many ways, our consistent and balanced foreign policy course sets the trajectory of global transformations, thus facilitating the emergence of a new multipolar world order. We seek to further develop honest and equitable international cooperation based on mutual understanding, trust, and neighbourliness. Following President Putin’s initiative, we are working to establish, across the Eurasian region, architecture of equal and indivisible security and extensive practical cooperation. In this context, we attach particular importance to the conclusion and implementation of bilateral agreements, including our treaties on security guarantees with Belarus and on comprehensive strategic partnership with the DPRK and Iran. We continue to expand relations across multiple areas with the World Majority, among them countries such as China, India, and other like-minded countries, our strategic partners and allies, primarily within the #CSTO, the #EAEU, and the #CIS, as well as the #SCO and #BRICS. Countering neo-colonial practices of all kinds ranging from unilateral coercive measures to military interventions remains firmly in our focus. In this context, we reaffirm our solidarity with the peoples of Venezuela and Cuba. We are convinced that only they can determine their own future. ☝️ The country’s leadership and Russian society hold our work to high standards. We are required to demonstrate discipline and dedication, as well as a passionate and creative approach to our duties. I trust that you will continue to work honourably for the good of the Fatherland and to contribute your share to addressing large-scale foreign policy goals set by the President. On this day, we express special gratitude to former ministerial employees, who taught us the fundamentals of diplomacy by their example. Many of them, to the extent of their abilities, remain active in the close-knit diplomatic ranks. By all means, I would like to separately thank all the relatives and loved ones of our employees. Your unconditional support gives us strength and keeps us focused. It is especially important for those who carry out their diplomatic service far from the Motherland. Once again, happy Diplomats’ Day to all. I wish you excellent health, well-being, and new accomplishments for the benefit of the Fatherland. #DiplomatsDay

🎙 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at a meeting with directors of Russian non-profit organisations (July 23, 2024) Key talking points: 🔹The role of public diplomacy has grown compared to the earlier period, primarily when it comes to maintaining a healthy atmosphere of confidence in relations with our foreign partners and explaining problems created by the West. 🔹 This applies to the the countries which we regard as unfriendly. I believe that we should use this term for governments, whereas the mood in the countries is largely determined by people’s lives and aspirations. I do not see any nation on the planet that would be unfriendly to our people in the first place. 🔹 I am aware that pubic organisations in Western countries somehow manage to maintain ties with some of their partners in Russia. This interaction is extremely important for keeping up relations at the level of civil societies and trying to understand each other. 🔹 We are beginning to see the outlines of a new multipolar world order. Nations around the world want to see their right to rule their destinies respected, and are searching for new ways of addressing various issues as alternatives to Western solutions. 🔹 The West is not ready to engage in mutually beneficial and equal cooperation. It has been seeking to hold on to its erstwhile standing which follows the path of irreversible, albeit slow, degradation. The NATO Summit in Washington provided yet another example of this process by adopting a declaration which once again emphasised the West’s unilateral approaches. 🔹 Today, Europe has been reduced to acting as Washington’s subject. Germany, for example, is the cornerstone of European politics and economy, but it still had to stomach the terrorist attacks against the Nord Stream pipelines which undermined its economic and social wellbeing. It had to pretend that this is the way it had to be. 🔹 The process of eradicating the centralised dictatorial model that America’s globalisation has morphed into will go hand in hand with regionalisation of economic processes. Preferably, in view of their interdependence with the global economy, the developments in Eurasia, Africa and Latin America ought to be coordinated and harmonised to a certain extent. #BRICS is quite capable of doing that. 🔹 We certainly believe that the United Nations remains a unique platform for universal cooperation that has no alternative. The UN Charter principles are relevant as never before. 🔹 I said earlier that Eurasia is emerging as an independent part of the multipolar and polycentric world. We are moving forward towards creating a Greater Eurasian Partnership, something that President Vladimir Putin mentioned 10 years back. Since then, this process has led to stronger ties between #EAEU, #SCO, and #ASEAN. 🔹 We trust that non-governmental and non-profit organisations will actively participate in these processes and continue to contribute to the overall efforts seeking to strengthen Russia’s position on the continent and around the world, including the promotion of the Russian language and our multiethnic culture. Read in full

🤝 On March 16-17, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretary-General Zhang Mingpaid a working visit to Moscow. The Secretary-General was received by Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation. He also held consultations with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. During the exchange of views, they discussed key aspects of the organisation’s activities, including prospects for improvement in the context of current changes in global politics and the economy. 👆The Parties discussed the growing demand for creativity and the stabilising role of the SCO in today’s complex geopolitical situation and its notable contribution to shaping a multipolar architecture of international relations. They exchanged views on strengthening the international standing of the #SCO with a focus on the need to deepen the dialogue with international partner organisations and multilateral associations, primarily the United Nations, the #CSTO, the #CIS, the #EAEU and also #ASEAN. The Parties expressed the importance of enhancing the efficiency of the secretariat’s work with a view to further consolidating the SCO. Read in full

#Announcement 🗓 On May 27-29, 2025, in Moscow, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergey Shoigu will chair the 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues. Invitations to participate in this forum have been extended to more than 150 states of the Global South and East, the #CIS, #CSTO, #EAEU, and #SCO countries, as well as to the leaders of more than 20 international organisations. The agenda of the 13th forum focuses on international security cooperation. ℹ️ The Security Council of the Russian Federation has been holding the annual international meetings of high representatives in charge of security issues since 2010. It is an important international platform for exchange of views on all global security-related issues and mechanisms to strengthen cooperation between partner countries to combat international terrorism, extremism, transnational crime, drug trafficking, as well as new challenges and threats. Media accreditation is open until May 20, 2025

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues(Moscow, May 28, 2025) Key talking points: 💬 Global South and East countries are becoming increasingly vocal when discussing and addressing the most urgent and key challenges the world is facing today. This reflects a tectonic shift in international politics, which took place over the past years and continues to this day. It primarily consists of an accelerated emergence of a multipolar world order, as well as new centres of development across the Eurasian continent, Africa and Latin America taking on a bigger role in the global distribution of power. • #BRICS exemplifies constructive multilateral cooperation among major international actors and their partners representing various continents, cultures and religions. It has firmly established itself as one of the pillars of a multipolar world order and a champion of the Global Majority on the international stage. • Upholding international law and seeking guidance from the principles of equality and neighbourly relations, as well as mutual respect and taking into account each other’s interests guarantees peace and stability. • The conflict in Ukraine (and more fundamentally, the profound security crisis across Europe) was triggered precisely by NATO’s aggressive eastward expansion over decades that was in direct contravention of the solemn assurances by American and European leaders to both Soviet and Russian leadership regarding the alliance’s non-expansion. • The alliance [NATO] is now taking steps to operate outside its area of responsibility, seeking to move into the Asia-Pacific region — the Indo-Pacific, as they call it — threatening to undermine the #ASEAN-centric security architecture that has developed there over decades and allowed the countries in the region and their partners in different parts of the world to successfully cooperate. This causes deep concern for the future of ASEAN and the future well-being of its member states. • We advocate for the creation, under current conditions, of a global security architecture rooted in the objective trends of multipolarity, the emergence of new growth centres, and one that guarantees equal conditions for the peaceful development of all states without exception. <...> The foundation for this already exists – the UN Charter. What is required is for all to adhere to it in good faith. • A crucial step towards the goal of global security is the formation of an architecture of equal and indivisible security on the Eurasian continent — the most expansive and resource-rich region, the stability of which underpins the resilience of a multipolar world. • Russia does not seek to impose anything on anyone and is ready to engage in mutually respectful dialogue with everyone. We will keep perfecting the existing security mechanisms and put them to use as part of our engagement with the #CSTO, #CIS, and the #SCO. • As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia is aware of the responsibility it has for international relations in all their aspects on the international stage, including in terms of promoting peace, strategic stability, conflict settlement and a unifying agenda. Read in full

🎙Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with Channel One’s Bolshaya Igra (Great Game) political talk show(September 18, 2025) Key points: • Unlike all other Western figures, whose actions and positions boiled down to the mantra that “Ukraine is right,” that Russia must suffer a “strategic defeat,” and that Ukraine’s sovereignty must be restored within its 1991 borders, Donald Trump and his team have repeatedly demonstrated, including publicly, an understanding of the need to address the root causes of the conflict. Donald Trump has stated publicly on multiple occasions that drawing Ukraine into NATO was a mistake. He made it abundantly clear that, to achieve a settlement, these aspirations must be set aside and security must be built on different principles. • We appreciated Donald Trump's openness and frankness back then and we do now. He doesn’t use underhand tactics, and he never conceals his thoughts. We appreciate his emphasis on results. He calls it making a deal in the broad sense of the word. • We would like to maintain the current dialogue between our Presidents, Foreign Ministers, national security aides, and special envoys of the two Presidents, as well as communication via other channels. We see that the American side wants this too. • All these Europeans made no secret of their previous and ongoing public efforts to dissuade US leadership from pursuing any constructive measures towards Russia within the context of the Ukrainian crisis. They seek to drag the United States back onto the treacherous path it followed under Joe Biden, when this was “Joe Biden’s war.” The Europeans are determined to make it “Donald Trump’s war” as well. They do not conceal this. • President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly made it clear that, ultimately, a sustainable agreement means a compromise. We are prepared to seek a compromise provided that our legitimate security interests and the legitimate interests of the Russian people in Ukraine are ensured just as the legitimate interests of other parties to such an agreement are. • The Trump administration recognises the importance of NATO-related issues. They’ve stated it publicly. There’s an understanding that the referenda in Crimea and other territories cannot be ignored. Any potential agreement must take the outcomes of these referenda into account. • Undoubtedly, they seek to impede any agreement – they oppose a settlement that would terminate their protracted endeavours to transform Ukraine into a perpetual irritant, if not an explicit threat, to the Russian Federation. That is obvious. • The war in Ukraine which the West has organised against us has proved that the Euro-Atlantic concepts have not lived up to the promises made during their creation. • President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated: we have never had, do not have, and will never have any plans to attack any NATO or EU country. Since 2008, we have tabled documents guaranteeing indivisible security and ensuring that no country enhances its security at the expense of others. This was endorsed by all parties within OSCE summits. • The new emerging economies continue to assert themselves. All forecasts point to this being a long-term and sustainable trend. <...> There is unity both within #BRICS and within the #SCO. We reject domination and diktat, and advocate for indivisible security across all regions. • We have our own military-political alliances, primarily the Union State of Russia and Belarus. The CSTO and the SCO also have a strong military-political dimension related to ensuring the security of member states. None of these formats ever sought to be hostile towards anyone. • President Putin advanced the initiative for creating a continental Eurasian security architecture in 2024, starting with joining the efforts and launching dialogue between subregional integration organisations and gradually moving towards a continental agreement. Read in full

📰Article by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for Lao media 🇷🇺🇱🇦 “Russia and Laos: 65 Years of Time-Tested Friendship”(November 20, 2025) Full article (Telegraph) ✍️ On October 7, 2025, Russia and Laos marked the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Over the past decades, much has changed in our countries and in the world at large. What has remained immutable are the unifying traditions of friendship, mutual assistance, and camaraderie, rooted in the years of the national liberation struggle of the Lao people against French colonialists and American aggressors. *** Key points: • The USSR took active part in the 1954 Geneva Conference, which put an end to French colonial rule in Indochina, and acted as a guarantor of Laos’s neutrality. During the “undeclared war”, extensive material support from the Soviet Union was an important factor in the victory of the Lao patriotic forces. • #RussiaLaos: Today, Russian-Lao cooperation is dynamically advancing in accordance with the spirit and letter of the Treaty on the Principles of Friendly Relations between Russia and the Lao PDR of March 9, 1994, and the Declaration on bilateral Strategic Partnership in the Asia-Pacific Region of October 13, 2011. • We attach great importance to the development of Russian-Lao practical cooperation, the volume of which continues to grow. The primary tasks in this area are the creation of new effective transport and logistics routes, the implementation of large joint investment projects, primarily in the fields of energy, exploration and mining, as well as support for the activities of small and medium-sized businesses. <…> We see good prospects in the project to construct a small modular reactor nuclear power plant in the Lao PDR with the participation of the Rosatom State Corporation. ❗️The strengthening strategic partnership between Russia and Laos allows us to look to the future with hope and optimism. • The priorities for joint work are determined by the leaders of our countries during their intensive and trust-based dialogue. On July 31, 2025, talks were held between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith during his official visit to Russia. In 2024, two meetings of the Heads of State took place – on May 9 in Moscow and on October 24 on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan. • Our countries’ approaches to a wide range of international issues coincide or are very close. We advocate for the unconditional observance of the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety, fullness, and interconnectedness. We are firmly committed to the formation of a just multipolar world order. • We appreciate the desire of our Lao partners to establish contacts with the leading associations of the World Majority, including #BRICS and the #SCO, to “build bridges” with the #EAEU, and to participate in the processes of creating the Greater Eurasian Partnership and the Eurasian security architecture. • We welcome Laos’s independent foreign policy, including its balanced position in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. Obviously, a lasting settlement of the conflict is only possible through eliminating its root causes • The strengthening strategic partnership between our countries allows us to look to the future with hope and optimism. The 65 years of cooperation is evidence that we can solve the most complex issues for the benefit of our countries and peoples, in the interests of ensuring universal peace and prosperity.