Russian MFA 🇷🇺

🤝 On December 24, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzinhad a meeting with the ambassadors of Central Asian States in Russia. Issues related to the implementation of the Joint Action Plan approved following the Second Central Asia-Russia Summit(Dushanbe, October 9), as well as initiatives put forward by the leaders of the Central Asian states during the event, were discussed. The talks were held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere. Attending the meeting were: 🇰🇿 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation Dauren Abayev; 🇰🇬 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Russian Federation Kubanychbek Bokontayev; 🇹🇯 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Russian Federation Gulmahmadzoda Davlatshoh Qurbanali; 🇹🇲 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Russian Federation Esen Aydogdyyev; 🇺🇿 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Russian Federation Botirjon Asadov.

On December 23, H.E. Mr Anatoly Borovik, Russian Ambassador, led the delegation of the diplomatic mission to the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC), where he met with H.E. Ms Pum Chantini, Secretary General of the organization, who briefed about the humanitarian situation in connection with the escalation of the conflict with Thailand. On behalf of the Embassy, H.E. Mr Anatoly Borovik donated 2 tons of rice, 1,375 packs of noodles, 75 liters of sunflower oil, 75 liters of fish sauce, 54 liters of soy sauce, and 1,200 liters of bottled drinking water as aid to the Cambodian residents forced to leave their homes. #RussiaCambodia#RussiaHelps

🎙Opening remarks by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov during his talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Syria Asaad al‑Shaibani(Moscow, 24 December 2025) 💬Sergey Lavrov: Quite recently, you accompanied transitional President of Syria Ahmed al-Sharaa during his visit for talks with Vladimir Putin. I am aware that, by general assessment, the visit proved to be very timely and productive. I believe that the key significance of this visit lies in the fact that Russia unequivocally reaffirmed its recognition of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of the Syrian Arab Republic. Immediately afterwards, a meeting of the Permanent Russian-Syrian Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation was held. Under the leadership of transitional President of Syria Ahmed al-Sharaa and the Russian co-chair, Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Irek Fayzullin, a principled understanding was reached on how to develop our trade and economic ties to our mutual benefit, building on the foundation laid in previous decades. Such regular coordination, made possible by your visit, is of great practical value. I am aware that yesterday you had a good conversation with President of Russia Vladimir Putin, during which bilateral issues, the situation in the region and practical tasks aimed at ensuring, as I have already noted, the key issue of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic were discussed. I also know that at yesterday’s meeting you expressed satisfaction with our interaction at international venues and voiced your intention to deepen it. Today, we have a good opportunity to examine this matter in detail and to outline concrete ways to implement this task.

⚡️Under Presidential Decree No. 883 of December 12, 2025, the Russian Federation is introducing a new impatriation framework aimed at supporting the relocation to permanent residence of foreign nationals and stateless persons whowish to contribute their skills and expertise inRussia. 👉The programme is aimed for foreign nationals who: • have achievements in science, technology, production, sports, creative industries, culture, or education; • have made a contribution to society, the economy, or Russia’s defence and security; • possess highly sought-after professions, qualifications, or skills. 👉Key features of the programme: • Open to citizens of all countries worldwide; • Accelerated migration procedures: – temporary residence permit without quotas or exams; – direct access to a permanent residence permit. 👉Support and integration: • Spouses, parents, children (including adopted or under guardianship) are eligible to relocate together with the impatriate; • Impatriates and their families receive end-to-end support at both the federal and regional levels, including through the Regional Standard for Impatriate Integration, implemented on a one-stop shop basis in pilot regions. ✅Applications for impatriate status open on April 15, 2026. Supervised by Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Agency for Strategic Initiatives, the programme marks Russia’s first immigration initiative focused specifically on attracting global talent, combining legal certainty, streamlined procedures, and comprehensive integration support. ☝️ Explore the infocards to learn more. #Russia1Love

✉️Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey #Lavrov has sent a congratulatory message to Director of Russia's MFA Press and Information Department Maria #Zakharova on her anniversary(December 24, 2025) ✍️ Dear Maria Vladimirovna, I extend to you my heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of your jubilee. An energetic and goal-oriented diplomat representing a new generation, you have devoted your entire life to serving Russia. Your vivid and distinctive professional style, exceptional dedication to work, and unconventional approach to addressing the tasks at hand have enabled you to achieve truly impressive results. Your invaluable contribution to promoting Russia’s foreign policy in the information sphere, to communicating its principles and priorities to broad audiences in Russia and worldwide, as well as to exposing Western propaganda, commands the deepest respect. It is only natural that you have earned – and I do not hesitate to say this – nationwide affection and the respect of millions of Russians and friends of our country abroad. I greatly value our many years of close cooperation. I highly appreciate your reliability and your sincere readiness to work for the benefit of the country, regardless of personal time and other circumstances. I wish you sound health, well-being, and new major successes in all your endeavours. SERGEY LAVROV

🔴#LIVE: Opening remarks by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Syria Asaad al-Shaibani in Moscow 🔴Ruptly 🔴Russia's MFA website

⚡️Article by Mikael Agasandyan, Director of the First CIS Countries Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, published in Eurasian Dialogue(December 22, 2025) Read in full ✍️A prosperous and dynamic business sector is undoubtedly one of the key system-forming drivers across a wide range of areas. Creating the most favourable conditions for entrepreneurship, including in the external dimension, is a strategic priority. Supporting Russian participants in foreign economic activity through diplomatic and international-legal instruments has therefore become one of the core tasks of Russia's Foreign Ministry. In practical terms, efforts are focused on the consistent advancement of economic integration processes, improving the legal and regulatory framework, strengthening interstate trade ties and technological sovereignty, and facilitating dialogue between regions and the business community. The principal driving force behind dynamic progress on the economic track is joint work with partners within regional multilateral structures involving Russia – the #EAEU, the #CIS and, to a certain extent, taking into account its specific mandate, the CSTO. #EAEU The flagship project in this regard is the Eurasian Economic Union – not only as an economic organization, but also as the most deeply integrated interstate association with supranational regulation. The #EAEU’s external trade activities open up broad opportunities for business, primarily through the conclusion of free trade agreements with third countries. The Eurasian Development Bank (#EDB) has a substantial set of instruments to support and promote entrepreneurship. The EDB provides financing and/or technical assistance for projects that generate or strengthen an integration effect within the region. Particular attention should also be paid to the EAEU Business Council. Its work is aimed at establishing direct links between entrepreneurs, fostering a favourable business environment, promoting trade-economic, industrial and investment cooperation, and supporting the EAEU’s external trade agenda. #CIS The economic dimension is likewise a key pillar of cooperation within the CIS. An extensive legal framework has been established, an integral component of which is the Free Trade Area Agreement of October 18, 2011, ensuring the functioning of a full-fledged free trade regime for goods. According to the CIS Interstate Statistical Committee, the foreign trade turnover of CIS countries reached USD 1.1 trillion in 2024. Special mention should be made of the statement on the inadmissibility of the use of unilateral restrictive measures in international relations, approved at the meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers on October 7, 2024. <…> #CSTO Within the CSTO framework, member states attach particular importance to military-economic and industrial cooperation, which is directly linked to the development of national defence-industrial complexes and the corresponding logistics and supply systems of the armed forces of the Organization’s member states. In the spirit of alliance and commitment to shared objectives, and with due regard for the national interests of each member state, painstaking work continues to further integrate and consolidate the efforts and competencies of defence-sector enterprises and organizations across the CSTO area, as well as to create the necessary conditions for implementing joint projects in priority fields. ☝️ In conclusion, despite the progress achieved, considerable reserves for further economic development within our common space remain untapped. The experience and resources of our regional structures are especially in high demand in the context of implementing the initiative of Russia's President Vladimir Putin to form a Greater Eurasian Partnership (#GEP). #Eurasia4You

🇷🇺🇬🇾 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana Hugh Hilton Toddexchanged messages of congratulation on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries (December 17, 1970). ✉️ In his message, Sergey Lavrov noted the increasingly strong ties of friendship between Russia and Guyana, which have been growing for more than five decades, and emphasised the solid favourable experience of bilateral cooperation that has been accumulated. Speaking about the development of a constructive dialogue at the UN Security Council, where Guyana has held a non-permanent seat since January 2024, he expressed his desire to deepen contacts at international forums with a view to building a fairer multipolar world order. In his turn, Hugh Todd welcomed the fruitful cooperation between Russia and Guyana in national personnel training, energy, healthcare, environmental protection, science and culture noting its great significance for developing the independent Co-operative Republic. 🤝 The Parties underscored their mutual commitment to build up their comprehensive interstate relations for the benefit of the peoples of their countries. #RussiaGuyana

🎙 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the General Meeting of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO (Moscow, December 23, 2025) 💬Sergey Lavrov: UNESCO marked its 80th anniversary in 2025. It has gone a long way since that time by establishing itself as a universally recognised and leading forum in culture, science, sports and education. However, in recent years our Western colleagues did everything to inject as much politics as possible into UNESCO’s work and to give its agenda an Ukraine bias, just as they do it in other international structures. This is an obvious manifestation of the so-called double standards with the UNESCO Executive Board adopting anti-Russian resolutions regarding Crimea and Ukraine which go far beyond UNESCO’s mandate. Under the preceding Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, who represented France, the organisation’s Secretariat was open about its commitment to serving the interests of the Western minority, turning a blind eye to the policies of the Kiev regime against Russian education and culture, the killings of our journalists and massive violations of the rights of Russians and Russian-speakers in Ukraine, including their right to speak their native tongue and to practice the Orthodox faith, despite the fact that the UN Charter guarantees these rights. <…> I regard the decisive victory of the newly elected Director-General, Egypt’s Khaled El-Enany, as an encouraging sign. During his election campaign, he advocated for reforming UNESCO, primarily by depoliticising its activities – specifically, addressing the legacy left by the French Director-General who preceded our Egyptian colleague. 🇷🇺 Despite all challenges, Russia has, as always, made a substantial contribution to UNESCO’s work across all its areas of activity in the past year. • At Russia’s initiative, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed the masterpiece of Palaeolithic art, Rock Paintings of Shulgan-Tash Cave, located in the Republic of Bashkortostan, onto the World Heritage List. This brings the total number of Russian sites on the list to 34. • The 5th Russian Congress of UNESCO Chairs was successfully held in Moscow. • The Russian network of UNESCO Chairs has expanded with two new members, while 18 schools have been granted the status of UNESCO Associated Schools. The city of Volzhsky has been included in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. In the field of education, particular attention will be paid to safeguarding traditional spiritual and moral values within the education system. <…> The adoption of the Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology came as a notable development this year. Russian experts made a substantial contribution to drafting this paper. 🌍 Within the framework of cooperation with African countries, we are funding media projects implemented through UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication. We are expanding partnerships with our friends in the near abroad. On June 6, in conjunction with its colleagues from the CIS, the Permanent Delegation of Russia to UNESCO once again held events at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to mark Russian Language Day. We teamed up with our Belarusian allies to prepare a submission for inclusion on the World Heritage List. Improving Russia’s international standing in the humanitarian sphere should remain a focus of our attention going forward. I am confident that we will continue to work in a coordinated and proactive manner. In this regard, I propose considering the advisability of engaging with UNESCO mechanisms that are new to us, in particular those aimed at promoting the cultural and linguistic heritage of the peoples of our country and our unique experience in preserving it. This could be facilitated by accession to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Read in full

🇷🇺🇻🇪📞 On December 22, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela Yvan Gilhad a telephone conversation. The Ministers expressed serious concern over the escalation of Washington’s actions in the Caribbean Sea, which are fraught with far-reaching consequences for the region and pose risks to international shipping. 🤝 The Russian Side reaffirmed its comprehensive support and solidarity with the leadership and people of Venezuela amid the current challenges. The Ministers agreed to continue close cooperation through bilateral channels and to coordinate steps at international venues, above all within the #UN, in the interests of ensuring respect for State sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs. #RussiaVenezuela

🔴#LIVE: Remarks by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the Meeting of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO 🔴Russia's MFA Website

🇷🇺🇦🇲 In St Petersburg, Russia's President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. Earlier, Nikol Pashinyan took part in a session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, as well as in an informal meeting of #CIS leaders at the State Hermitage Museum. 💬 Vladimir Putin: Mr Pashinyan, I would like to welcome you once again and thank you for participating in these events under the auspices of the EAEU and the CIS. We have already exchanged views on the results of our yesterday’s and today’s work. Overall, in my opinion, everything proceeded at a very high level. I hope the atmosphere was positive, but the most important thing is that our teams worked diligently from all sides and prepared excellent documents. Everything has been signed, and everything is progressing. Regarding bilateral relations, they are developing. Our trade turnover has seen an adjustment, as we discussed yesterday. If in 2024 it surpassed $11 billion, in the first nine months of this year it reached 4.5 billion. This is also a good indicator and gives us reason to believe that in the near future, we will be able to increase it. We also have promising plans. We have already spoken about energy, including nuclear energy. We will not delve into detail now, but there is an opportunity to discuss this further. The same applies to logistics: during our last meeting, you raised questions about various areas where we could work together. I am referring to the restoration of old routes and the creation of new ones that would open up Armenia’s borders. So, overall, everything is progressing. Naturally, there are other issues we can discuss now. I am very pleased to see you. Thank you for being here. #RussiaArmenia