Russian MFA 🇷🇺

🇷🇺🇹🇲📞On February 12, Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Prime Minister – Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov had a telephone conversation. They discussed Russia-Turkmenistan cooperation, upcoming bilateral contacts, as well as joint work within the #CIS and the #CaspianStates format. #DiplomatsDay: the Ministers also exchanged congratulations on the professional holidays of both countries’ diplomatic personnel. #RussiaTurkmenistan

🎙Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the Government Hour during the Plenary Session of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation(February 11, 2026) Read in full 💬Sergey Lavrov: Russia is defending its legitimate rights in the emerging #MultipolarWorld amid intense competition. We are often compelled to do so despite the Western minority’s reluctance to curb its excessive ambitions. Russia engages respectfully with those prepared to work on the basis of sovereign equality and other principles of international law. Such countries constitute the #GlobalMajority. They are our reliable and promising partners. The West, however, has yet to rid itself of its obsession with colonial – and, I dare say, slave-owning – grandeur. The dramatic events of the beginning of 2026, including the armed invasion of Venezuela by the US, increased American pressure on Cuba, attempts to destabilize Iran, and the crisis around Greenland, have confirmed our assessment that the world has entered an era of rapid and profound change. The central trend toward a more just and sustainable multipolar system will be accompanied by a struggle between the “old” former leaders – concentrated in the West – and the rising centres of development representing the Global Majority. This struggle is gaining momentum and affects virtually all regions. Viewed through this perspective, it becomes clear why a former colonial power such as France seeks to undermine nationally oriented governments in the Sahel and other parts of Africa. Berlin is not far behind, driven by revanchist ambitions. 🤔 The current generation of German, French and other European politicians seems to have forgotten the “outcomes” of Poltava, Berezina, Stalingrad and the Kursk Bulge. The state of strategic stability remains a matter of concern. A number of European Russophobes continue to groundlessly blame Russia for its deterioration. At the same time, President Vladimir Putin’s initiative proposing continued voluntary compliance by the parties to New START with its core quantitative limits has received no official response from the US. ☢️ We proceed from the understanding thatthe moratorium declared by President Putin remains in force – but only as long as the US does not exceed those limits. We will defend truth and law in all contacts with our international partners. We will provide political and diplomatic support to ensure the achievement of all the goals and objectives of the special military operation. ❗️We consistently emphasize that a sustainable settlement of the crisis provoked by the “collective West” in Ukraine is impossible without eliminating its root causes. Unlike those who, in President Putin’s words, claim the “right of might” to dictate their will, lecture others and issue orders, we threaten no one and impose our views on no one. On the contrary, our diplomacy consistently advances honest, equal and mutually beneficial partnerships with all who are prepared to engage on these principles. Our strategic partnerships and allied relations with our neighbours – the #CIS and #CSTO member states – play a key role in ensuring national security and maintaining regional stability. We will continue to further develop these ties.

⚡️ Following the Security Council’s discussion of the activities of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (#UNRCCA), the Russian Side, traditionally acting as the informal penholder on this dossier, prepared a draft press statement. However, Western members of the Council, including the US, the UK, Denmark and Latvia, once again insisted on removing from the text a paragraph devoted to UNRCCA’s cooperation with the #CSTO, the #CIS and the #SCO. As a result, the Russian delegation was compelled to discontinue work on the document. ❗️Cooperation with the said regional organizations constitutes one of UNRCCA’s core functions. The positive role of the CSTO, the CIS and the SCO in ensuring stability and development in Central Asia has repeatedly been acknowledged by the UN Secretariat and UN Member States, including the Central Asian Five. The unwillingness of certain Security Council members to accept the realities on the ground, guided by their own narrow self-serving interests, is a clear manifestation of “double standards” and highlights the high degree of politicization underlying such counterproductive initiatives. The Russian Side will continue to promote deeper, depoliticized and professional dialogue between the UN and constructive regional organizations, in strict accordance with the letter and spirit of Chapter VIII of the UN Charter.

🎙Remarks by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov following the wreath-laying ceremony on the occasion of Russian Diplomatic Workers' Day (February 10, 2026) Read in full 💬Sergey Lavrov: It is a great honour to welcome our friends and allies to this ceremony today. I greatly appreciate the presence of representatives of the #CIS and senior officials from the executive bodies of the Eurasian integration associations. We are confident that respect for our shared history and devotion to the unparalleled heroism of our fathers and grandfathers during the Great Patriotic War constitute a vital foundation for deepening cooperation between our diplomatic services and states, while also providing a solid basis for the successful implementation of unifying initiatives across the Eurasian space. Preserving the memory of our struggle against Nazism is of particular importance in preventing this hateful ideology from re-emerging in any form or manifestation. This year marks 80 years since the conclusion of the Nuremberg Trials, when history delivered its final and irrevocable verdict on the war criminals of the Third Reich for the genocide of the peoples of the former Soviet Union. We will continue our efforts to ensure that the rulings of the Tribunal remain inviolable and that the crimes once condemned never occur again – whether in Ukraine or anywhere else in Europe where attempts are being made to disguise Nazism as something acceptable. In close coordination with our allies, strategic partners and friends from the Global Majority, we will continue to promote a constructive international agenda, strengthen security throughout Eurasia and advance various forms of integration in line with the initiatives put forward by Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Through these efforts, we aim to facilitate the formation of a #MultipolarWorldfirmly grounded in the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interconnection. ❗️We will continue to resolutely defend Russia's national interests, do everything necessary to protect the lives and dignity of our citizens and compatriots, preserve and build upon the historical, spiritual and moral legacy passed down to us by our ancestors. I am strongly convinced that the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is fully prepared to meet these challenges. You have my sincere gratitude. In conclusion, I would like to extend my congratulations on Russian Diplomatic Workers' Day to all employees of the Ministry’s central office in Moscow, its territorial missions in Russia's regions, our diplomatic missions abroad, and our dear veterans of the diplomatic service. #DiplomatsDay2026

📺Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with NTV television channel(Moscow, February 10, 2026) Key points: • President Vladimir Putinhas repeatedly addressed the unfolding global processes. These are objectively shaped by the entire course of history and contemporary developments – where, after 500 years of Western dominance, sustained through slavery and colonialism at the expense of others, a multipolar order is now emerging to replace that system. • Countries such as China, India, and Brazil, alongside integration blocs like the #GCC and such Eurasian sub-regional groupings as ASEAN, our post-Soviet structures, such as the #CIS, the #CSTO, the #EAEU, and the Union State of Russia and Belarus – are increasingly asserting themselves as influential actors on the international stage, not only in economic, trade, and financial spheres but politically as well. • Europe persists in attempting to dictate its approaches across the Eurasian continent, blatantly obstructing and undermining the natural processes of cooperation between Russia and Central Asian states, as well as our allies in the South Caucasus. Europe is aggressively pushing into the Black Sea region, disregarding the existing Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The same applies to the Arctic. • Certain analysts suggest that the United States will now leave Europe to its own devices, seek to pacify the Middle East – halting yet another war – and negotiate with Russia to remove the Ukrainian issue from the agenda. • We find it important to guarantee our national interests. We agree with the administration of Donald Trump that the foreign policy of normal major powers, especially such as the United States and Russia, should be based on national interests. • If we analyse practical steps taken by US President Donald Trump and his team with regard to Russia during the Trump administration’s second tenue in the White House, then we can see that we are moving in the wrong direction. • The root causes [of the Ukraine crisis] will not go anywhere unless we consider eliminating them in any peace agreement we may sign. We are ready to do that. We have said many times that President Trump publicly recognised our interest in NATO not expanding any farther. That is a huge step. No other Western leader has ever said that publicly, while he has reiterated it on several occasions. • The recognition of territories is an issue that arises directly from these root causes, as these territories came under Russian control following attempts to threaten our security and to persecute the people who had lived there for centuries. • If, contrary to expectations, Europe does implement its threats to prepare for war against us and attacks the Russian Federation, we will not launch, as President Vladimir Putin has put it, another special military operation. Our response will be a full-blown military retaliation involving all available forces and assets in keeping with the doctrinal documents to this effect. • We will closely follow what the American side will do now that formal restrictions [of strategic offensive arms] are no longer in place. We will treat this situation with full responsibility and we will not be the first to escalate. • [Epstein files] have nothing to do with the diplomatic work. It has everything to do with exposing the countenance known as the collective West. It’s no longer called the Deep State, but a deep alliance that rules the entire West and is trying to rule the rest of the world. Any right-minded person would agree that this is pure Satanism and is beneath human comprehension. Read in full

📺 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 interview to the TV BRICS international media network (Moscow, February 9, 2026) Read in full Key talking points • The global arena is undergoing a transformation that began some time ago with the objective transition toward a multipolar world order. This is neither the bipolarity of the Soviet-American era with the Warsaw Pact and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, nor the unipolarity that emerged after the Soviet Union’s collapse. <...> Multiple centres of rapid economic growth, power, and financial and political influence have thus emerged. • It is equally important that we develop action plans tailored for each partner country covering trade and economic cooperation, investment, scientific collaboration, and coordinated activity on the international stage, including at the United Nations and other organisations, based on agreements reached between presidents and prime ministers. Particular attention is devoted to #CIS, #EAEU, #CSTO, and the post-Soviet space at large. This day-to-day work relies on long-term planning and delivers tangible mutual benefits to both Russia and its partners. • Multiple centres of rapid economic growth, power, and financial and political influence have thus emerged. The world is being reshaped through competition. The West is reluctant to relinquish its formerly dominant positions. • Safeguarding security demands sustained action to ensure that the Nazi state established on our borders in Ukraine – and supported by the West as a vehicle for renewed confrontation – cannot continue to exist in its present form. Nazi foundations must be eliminated. We will ensure, and I have no doubt about it, our own security interests, by preventing the deployment on Ukrainian territory of any weapons threatening us, and, second, by guaranteeing reliable and full protection for the rights of Russian and Russian-speaking people, who have been living in Crimea, Donbass and Novorossiya for centuries, and whom the Kiev regime that came to power after a coup declared subhuman “species” and “terrorists” and unleashed a civil war against. • Russia chaired#BRICS in 2024. At that time, a summit was held in Kazan, and a number of our initiatives were put into action: alternative payment platforms, payment mechanisms in national currencies, the creation of reinsurance opportunities for trade within BRICS and between the association and its partners, the creation of a grain exchange, and a new investment platform. All this is not to spite anyone, especially the United States. This is due to the fact that the United States seeks to bring all processes in the areas I mentioned under its strict control and demands unilateral concessions. Without giving up contacts with them, to the extent that they are willing to engage on a mutually beneficial basis, we are interested, together with our BRICS partners, in creating an architecture that will not be subject to the illegal actions of one or another player from the Western flank. • The Greater Eurasian Partnership was bound to appear on the agenda. Many years ago, at the 2015 Russia – #ASEAN Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested this term which is based on an objective trend of Eurasia becoming the biggest, richest and fastest-growing continent, especially its Pacific part. It is the most heavily-populated continent which, importantly, has seen several great civilisations emerge and continue to exist – the Chinese, Indian, Arab, Persian and Russian civilisations. ☝️ It is for a reason that our initiative on building a common Eurasian security architecture, set forward by President Putin in 2024, is gaining momentum. It is increasingly attracting interest.

#Announcement 🗓 On February 6, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to hold talks in Moscow with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Federal Councillor of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis and OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu (Türkiye). Sergey Lavrov’s previous meeting with Ignazio Cassis and Feridun Sinirlioglu took place in New York in September 2025 on the sidelines of the high-level week as part of the High-Level Week of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly. Elected by the organisation’s members for one calendar year, the OSCE’s chairship-in-office is tasked with: • coordinating the activities and holding consultations on current matters, • appointing the heads of field missions and special representatives on conflicts and various issues, • holding meetings of the OSCE’s decision-making bodies and other events. The country assuming the OSCE chairmanship must focus on consensus-based approaches and take into account the diversity of opinions as expressed by member states as well as strictly adhere to the mandate of the chairship as set out in the decision of the 2002 OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Porto titled “The role of the OSCE chairmanship-in-office” and the Permanent Council Decision No. 845 dated 2002 titled “OSCE statements and public information.” Considering the current situation within the OSCE, it can hardly play any role in ensuring security within the new multipolar world order. There is no doubt that the OSCE could benefit from taking into account the experience of associations such as the #SCO, #BRICS and the #CIS, where countries have been guided by the principles of equality and mutual support. The talks will focus on overcoming the deep crisis the OSCE is currently experiencing. It results from the destructive actions by some Western countries, who have been seeking to exploit the OSCE in the pursuit of their vested interests, including by unleashing an anti-Russian hysteria. Finland was proactive in encouraging this posture during its chairmanship-in-office in 2025. It failed to fulfil its mandate as an honest broker. In particular, nothing was done to bring the three security dimensions – politico-military, economic and environmental, and humanitarian – back to normal. There has been virtually no progress along these tracks since 2022 which is attributable to an almost total Ukrainisation of the OSCE agenda. 🇷🇺Russia intends to discuss the prospects for addressing the existing problems while respecting the interests of all the participating countries. <...> During the meeting, participants will pay special attention to the OSCE’s economic and environmental dimension, which is designed to harmonise the interests of the participating states in the corresponding sectors. Russia will stress that it is unacceptable to use tools pertaining to the second basket when assessing environmental damage in Ukraine and promoting manifestly confrontational positions such as subjecting climate-related matters to the security agenda. <...> The Foreign Minister will focus on the most recent issues within the OSCE space, i.e., countering the manifestations of neo-Nazism, preventing the falsification of history and media censorship, defending traditional values, the rights of believers and ethnic minorities. Sergey Lavrov also intends to point out there has been a tendency for over three years now to replace OSCE’s key events, including the Humanitarian Segment of the OSCE Review Conference, with formats operating outside of the consensus rule. <...> Russia will draw the Chairperson-in-Office’s attention to the need to address Russia’s obvious underrepresentation in senior political roles within the OSCE, as well as the need to ensure that Russian candidates are treated in an impartial manner.

🎙 Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s answer to a media question regarding Moldova’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States (January 21, 2026) ❓Question: On January 19, Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi announced the initiation of a process to denounce three fundamental CIS documents: the Commonwealth Charter, the Agreement on the Establishment of the CIS, and its Protocol. According to him, this will grant Chișinău “the right to say that Moldova is no longer a member of the CIS.” How would you comment on this? 💬 Maria Zakharova: The Moldovan authorities have on numerous occasions declared their intention to, in their own words, undertake a “civilised divorce” from the Commonwealth of Independent States. For several years now, Chișinău has been systematically distancing itself from the Commonwealth: • it does not participate in meetings of its statutory bodies, • does not contribute its share to the organisation’s budget, • selectively denounces agreements it claims hold no added value for its citizens. It is important to note, however, that Moldova remains a party to approximately 200 international treaties concluded within the CIS framework, covering virtually all spheres of interstate cooperation. It is crucial, however, to understand that withdrawing from CIS membership requires adherence to established procedure. According to Article 9 of the CIS Charter, a member state may withdraw by notifying the CIS Executive Committee in writing, which triggers a 12-month period. Following this notification, the date from which this one-year period begins is determined, and a formal process begins to inventory all treaties and decisions of CIS bodies to which the withdrawing state is a party. This process results in the compilation of lists detailing which agreements will cease to apply and which the state may choose to retain. Therefore, withdrawal does not happen overnight; compliance with this procedure constitutes an international obligation of Moldova towards all other CIS member states, not merely Russia. While the decision to initiate the denunciation of the core treaties within the #CIS framework is undoubtedly the sovereign right of Moldova, within the country itself it has been widely characterised as further evidence of the government’s short-sighted foreign policy, as it recklessly prioritises exclusive cooperation with the EU while severing long-standing ties across the Eurasian space. 📉 It is a difficult assessment to dispute. The current socio-economic situation in Moldova can only be described as disastrous. According to its own National Bureau of Statistics, from January to November 2025, the country’s imports exceeded exports by more than fourfold, with the trade deficit growing by 29.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Simultaneously, Moldovan exports to EU countries fell by 4% by the end of the first half of 2025. Real incomes continue to decline against a backdrop of rising prices for food and essential services. The poverty rate now exceeds 30%, with approximately 65% of the population living on low incomes. In essence, Moldova’s entire socio-economic framework is now dependent on external funding, predominantly from the EU, leaving the nation firmly in the grip of European debt. The CIS remains a respected and dynamically growing organisation in the post-Soviet space. 📈 The economies of its member states demonstrated positive growth across most key indicators in the first half of 2025. Compared to the same period last year, the Commonwealth’s aggregate GDP grew by 2.2%, industrial production by 4.7%, freight traffic by 6.0%, and retail turnover by 3.2%. Mutual trade between CIS countries has increased by 18% over the past four years. Chișinău’s destructive course is ricocheting primarily onto the citizens of Moldova, whose interests are being sacrificed to Brussels’s geopolitical ambitions. A once-prosperous nation is being transformed into a land of deepening poverty and lawlessness. 🪦 It is indeed a bitter spectacle to witness. Read in full

⚡️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

🇷🇺🇦🇲 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

🇷🇺🇹🇯 A bilateral meeting between Russia's President Vladimir Putin and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmonwas held at the State Hermitage Museum. Earlier, the Head of State of the Republic of Tajikistan took part in an informal meeting of the leaders of the #CIS member countries. 💬Vladimir Putin: Mr Rahmon, Once again, I would like to thank you for accepting the invitation and coming to St Petersburg. ◾️However, I would like to begin our bilateral meeting by expressing my sincere condolences to you and to the family of the boy from Tajikistan who tragically lost his life a few days ago. Perpetrating terrorist acts against children is an especially abhorrent crime. The investigation will be concluded without doubt, and the perpetrators, should there be several, will undoubtedly be brought to full justice. I repeat once again: I was shocked by this crime. As I have already said, crimes of this kind are beyond comprehension, and when such terrorist acts are committed against children, it evokes particularly strong emotions. Please convey my most sincere condolences to the family of the deceased boy. #RussiaTajikistan